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ANALYSIS 


7Iiueral  IrTaters  of  Saratoga  aucl 
Ball<$ton, 

WITH 

PRACTICAL    REMARKS   ON  THEIR  MEDICAL  PROPERTIES; 
TOGETHER  WITH 

A  History  of  the  Discovery  and  Settlement  of  these 
celebrated  Watering  Places)) 

AXD  OBSERVATIOSS  ON  THE 

GEOLOGY  AND  MIlNERALOGy  OF  THE  SURROUNDING  COUNTRY. 


BY  JOHN  H.  STEEL,  M.  D. 


"  Tho  Lord  hath  created  medicines  out  of  the  earth,  and  he 
that  is  wise  will  not  abhor  tlicm." — Bible. 


second  Elittfon. 


SARATOGA  SPRINGS  : 

PRINTED  ASD  PUBLISHED  BT  G.  M.  DAVISON. 


1S3§. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  congress,  in  the  year  1838,  by 
G.  M.  Davison,  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  Northern  District  of  New-York. 


I¥EAV-YORK 

HISTORICAL    SOCIETY; 

Formed  for  the  express  purpose  of  elicit- 
iug;  and  pre!«erviiiii;  Aviiatevcr  may  relate 
to  the  Pliyisical  IIi:>»tory  of  tlic  state,  this 
Aiialy>>i««  of  some  of  tlie  mo<>>t  distiuguislied 
and  celebrated  ITIiiieral  AVaters  Avliicli  our 
country  any  Avhere  affords,  is  respectfully 
inscribed, 

By  the 

AUTHOR. 

Saratoga  Springs,  July  1,  1831, 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


Is  presentinfT  to  the  public  a  new  work  on  the  mineral 
waters  of  Saratoga,  some  explanation  may  be  deemed  ne- 
cessary. 

These  waters  had  been  considerably  resorted  to,  and 
had  become  quite  celebrated  for  their  medicinal  qualities, 
particularly  about  the  country,  long  before  any  thing  more 
was  known  of  their  properties  than  what  was  gathered 
from  the  effects  which  they  produced,  when  taken  into 
the  stomach. 

Dr.  Seaman,  of  the  city  of  New- York,  who  visited  the 
place  as  early  as  1793,  undertook,  while  on  the  spot,  some 
chemical  experiments  on  the  water,  in  order  to  determine 
its  real  character;  and  to  him  the  public  are  indebted  for 
the  first  scientific  effort  ever  made  to  elucidate  its  true 
[)roperties.  His  publication  contained  much  useful  infor- 
mation on  the  subject,  but  his  experiments  were  limited  to 
only  one  of  the  fountains,  and  iiis  deductions  were  not  al- 
ways conclusive.  Several  other  scientific  notices  of  the 
waters  were  subsequently  published  by  able  chemists,  but 
they  were  not  more  successful  in  producing  satisfactory 
results;  and,  although  they  went  far  to  corrobrate  the 
opinions  and  views  of  the  Doctor,  they  afforded  no  addi- 
tional inlI)rmation  to  tli;it  which  he  had  previously  acquir- 
ed ;  so  that  the  di^icrect  jihy.sician,  vviicn  called  upon  to 


Vi  PREFACE   TO   THE   FIRST   EDITIOIT. 

direct  the  use  of  the  waters,  was  frequently  at  a  loss,  and 
for  the  want  of  proper  information,  unable  to  decide,  in 
many  cases,  as  to  the  proriety  or  impropriety  of  prescrib- 
ing their  use. 

In  the  summer  of  1817, 1  first  published  some  observa- 
tions on  the  mineral  waters  of  Saratoga  and  Ballston.  At 
that  time,  I  had  resided  at  the  Springs  something  over  ten 
years,  and  having  been,  during  that  period,  often  consulted 
in  relation  to  the  qualities  and  uses  of  the  waters  in  vari- 
ous diseases,  I  felt  compelled  to  engage  in  a  course  of  in- 
quiries, which  would  lead  to  a  better  and  more  satisfactory 
understanding  of  the  general  character  and  comparative 
properties  of  the  different  fountains  ;  and  if  the  little  work, 
which  resulted  from  the  undertaking  at  that  time,  was  not 
sufficiently  minute  and  discriminating  in  its  details  to  satisfy 
xhe  profound  chemist,  it  was  thought,  at  least,  to  contain 
all  that  was  important  for  the  instruction  of  the  physician, 
or  the  benefit  of  his  invalid  patient. 

Since  that  period,  several  analyses  of  the  most  celebrated 
fountains  have  at  different  times  appeared,  under  the  sanc- 
tion of  names  calculated  to  inspire  the  fullest  confidence  in 
their  correctness ;  but  the  glaring  discrepancies  manifested 
in  the  results  have  tended  greatly  to  lessen  that  confi- 
dence, and  to  involve  the  subject  in  uncertainty  and  doubt. 

It  therefore  became  necessary  tiiat  a  more  careful  and 
accurate  investigation  of  the  properties  of  these  waters 
should  be  made,  in  a  way  and  manner  calculated  to  estab- 


PREFACE   TO   THE   FIRST   EDITION.  Vn 

lish  their  real  characterj  and,  if  possible,  to  settle  the  public 
mind  on  the  subject. 

Having  spent  more  than  twenty  years  of  my  profession- 
al life  on  tlie  spot,  and  having  been  compelled  to  devote 
almost  the  whole  of  my  attention,  particularly  during  the 
drinking  season,  to  the  operation  and  effects  of  the  waters, 
in  the  various  and  complicated  diseases  which  have,  at 
diflerent  times,  presented  themselves  at  the  Springs,  I  was 
impelled,  by  a  sense  of  duty  which  I  owed  to  the  public,  as 
well  as  to  the  very  respectable  individuals  who  have  here- 
tofore honored  me  with  their  attentions,  to  make  the  sub- 
ject an  object  of  my  particular  and  minute  investigation  ; 
and  for  several  years  past,  the  examination  has  employed 
the  wl'.ole  of  my  leisure  hours. 

Availing  myself  of  all  the  sources  of  information  which 
the  present  state  of  science  on  this  subject  aflbrded,  I  com- 
menced the  arduous  undertaking,  with  a  determination 
that  no  labor,  at  least,  should  deter  me  from  arriving  at  as 
great  a  degree  of  accuracy  as  the  subject  would  permit ; 
and  the  result  of  a  patient  and  laborious  investigation  is 
now  presented  to  the  public,  under  an  impression  that  the 
accuracy  of  tlie  conclusions  will  not  be  controverted  by 
iho.ic  who  have  the  means,  and  will  take  tlie  trouble  to  ex- 
amine for  themselves. 

By  comparing  the  present  analysis  of  the  waters  of  the 
several  springs  with  that  which  I  formerly  published,  a 
considerable  differcr.cc  in  tlip  results  will  be  readily  discov- 
ered.    This,  however,  must  not  be  imputed  to  any  alter- 


Viii  PREFACE    TO   THE    FIRST    EDITION. 

ation  or  cliange  in  the  original  properties  of  the  waters, 
but  is  accounted  for,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  different 
state  or  condition  in  which  the  various  saline  ingredients 
afforded  by  the  water  were,  by  the  different  processes,  ob- 
tained. In  my  former  analysis  the  whole  of  the  saline  re- 
siduum was  estimated  while  in  a  state  of  crystallization  ;  in 
the  present  instance,  the  quantities  are  calculated  in  a  per- 
fectly dry  state.  There  are  otlier  differences  of  a  less  im- 
portant character,  which  unquestionably  arise  from  errors 
committed  in  the  former  analysis,  which,  I  am  now  happy 
in  the  opportunity  to  acknowledge,  as  well  as  to  correct. 

Under  an  impression  that  every  thing  relating  to  the 
early  history  and  settlement  of  the  springs  is  becoming 
every  day  more  and  more  interesting,  as  the  place  advan- 
ces in  importance,  I  have  endeavored  to  give  as  full  and 
perfect  an  account  of  it  as  I  have  been  able  to  collect. 
For  this,  lam  greatly  indebted  to  a  number  of  individuals; 
particularly  to  John  K.  Beekman,  Esq,  of  New- York,  who 
kindly  furnished  me  with  severable  valuable  documents, 
in  relation  to  the  early  history  of  the  celebrated  patent 
of  Kayaderosseras. 

I  am  likewise  under  particular  obligations  to  Dr.  Samu- 
el Freeman,  of  Ballston  Spa,  for  the  particulars  in  relation 
to  the  history  of  that  place,  as  well  as  for  many  useful  prac- 
tical observations  on  the  medical  properties  of  the  waters. 
Dr.  Freeman  has  resided  on  the  spot  for  a  number  ofyears, 
and  his  knowledge  and  experience  entitle  his  opinions  lo 
the  fullest  confidence  and  respect. 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


The  autlior  of  the  present  volume,  the  late  Doct.  Steel, 
had  commenced  revising  it  for  a  second  edition  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1837  ;  but  a  continued  ilhicss,  with  which  he  had 
been  atihcted  for  some  months  previous,  prevented  a  com- 
pletion. In  tiic  autumn  of  that  year  he  liad  journeyed  to 
the  soutii  and  east,  under  an  impression  tliat  a  change  of 
climate  and  a  relaxation  from  business  Avould  prove  benefi- 
cial. But  after  an  absence  of  some  weeks  he  returned,  and 
was  soon  thereafter  confined  to  his  house  until  his  decease, 
which  took  place  on  the  23d  of  April,  1838,  at  the  age  of 
56  years.  A  few  weeks  previous  to  this  event,  he  placed 
the  few  additions  wiiich  he  liad  been  enabled  to  make  to 
tiie  former  edition  of  this  work  in  the  hands  of  the  pub- 
lisher, with  a  request  that  they  miglit  be  properly  arran- 
ged, and  such  verbal  corrections  made  as  might  be  found 
necessary.  This  has  been  faithfully  complied  with ;  and 
though  it  was  the  design  of  Doct.  S.  liad  he  lived,  to  have 
taken  a  wider  range  on  many  suljjects  connected  witli  the 
history  of  the  Springs  and  tlie  analysis  of  the  mineral  wa- 
ters, it  is  believed  that  the  present  work  (the  only  one  of 
the  kind  extant)  will  be  found  to  be  highly  instructive  as 


X  PREFACE   TO    THE   SECOND   EDITION. 

well  as  beneficial  to  persons  desirous  of  availing  themselves 
of  the  use  of  these  waters  for  medicinal  purposes. 

The  great  experience  of  Doct.  S.  connected  with  his 
scientific  attainments  and  a  long  residence  at  the  Springs, 
gave  him  an  opportunity  possessed  by  no  other  person  of 
being  thorouglily  acquainted  with  the  properties  and  effects 
of  these  fountains,  and  of  being  eminently  fitted  to  give  di- 
rections for  their  use.  To  him  more  than  to  any  one  else  are 
the  public  indebted  for  bringing  them  so  effectually  into  no- 
tice; he  spared  no  expense  or  labour,  during  his  residence 
of  twenty-five  years  in  this  place,  in  becoinini>  familiar 
with  their  properties  and  with  the  various  diseases  for 
which  they  had  proved  remedial ;  and  there  are  thousands 
now  enjoying  the  blessings  of  health,  who  might  have  been 
laboring  under  protracted  illness,  or  have  become  the  ten- 
ants of  the  grave,  but  for  his  prescriptions  and  the  use  of 
these  waters.  The  written  admonitions  and  directions  of 
such  a  man  are  therefore  invaluable,  and  will  commend 
this  work  to  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

THE  PUBLISHER. 

Saratoga  Springs,  July,  1S38. 


co^te:^ts. 


Pagk, 

histort  of  the  springs, ..,.....,     13 

Geological  Remarks  om  the  County  of  Saratoga,..,.  49 

Examination  of  the  Waters, 75 

Description  of  the  Springs, 79 

Congress  Spring, id 

Preliminary  Observations, 84 

Experiments  with  tests, 86 

Inferences, 91 

Examination  of  the  gaseous  contents  of  tlic  water, 9-4 

Examination  of  the  sohd  contents  of  the  water, 100 

Recapitulation, 113 

Medical  History, 118 

Columbian  Spring, 123 

Wasliington  S[iring, 131 

Hamiltun  Spring, 134 

Flat  Rock  Spring, 139 

High  Rock  Spring, 142 

President  Spring, 149 

Red  Spring, 1  oO 

Ten  Springs, 151 

Ellis'  Spring, 153 

Quaker  Springs, 1 56 

Ballston   Spa, 157 

Sans  Souci  Spring, t  •  169 

Low's  Spring, 172 

Park  Spring, 173 

Public  Well 1 74 

New  Washington  S])ring, 176 

SuLPUUEUEOLb  WaTEKS,. •  i .  i 178 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

Practical  Observations  on  the  Medical  properties 

of  the  waters, 183 

Bilious  Complaints, 185 

Dyspepsia, 186 

Calculous  and  Nephritic  complaints, 192 

Chronic  Rheumatism, 193 

Anthritis,  or  Gout, id 

Phagedenic,  or  ill-conditioned  Ulcers, 194 

Cutaneous  Eruptions, , id 

Scrofula, 195 

Dropsy, 199 

Paralysis, id 

Chlorosis, , 200 

Phthisis, id 

Season  suitable  for  drinking  the  waters, 201 

Closing  remarks, , 202 


ANALYSIS. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRIIVGS. 

Saratoga  is,  in  all  probability,  a  corruption  of 
the  Indian  Avord,  Sah-rah-ka,  which  is  said  to 
mean  "  the  side-hill,"  and  was  applied  by  the  na- 
tives more  particularly  to  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try which  lies  between  the  Lake  and  the  Hudson, 
where  the  application  of  the  term  is  amply  justified 
in  the  appearance  of  the  country. 

Tl'c  ^vhole  country  which  seems  to  have  inher- 
ited the  name  is  of  much  greater  extent.  It  cm- 
braces  a  tiact  of  country  which,  coiomenchig  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Moliawk  river,  stretches  to  the 
north  along  the  wind/ngs  of  the  west  bank  of  the 
Hudson  for  more  than  s<;vcnty  miles,  to  the  coun- 
ty of  AN'arren  ;  ♦hence  in  a  westerly  direction  to 
the  cast  bounds  of  the  county  of  Hamilton,  about 
fiftt'cti  mil<s  ;  frftni  this  spot  the  line  proceeds  in  a 
southerly  direction  aloii!;;  the  wholt;  extent  of  tiic 
cast  line  of  the  (bounty  of  Moui^'ouury.  about 
n 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

thirty  miles,  to  the  north  line  of  the  county  of 
Schenectady  ;  thence  along  the  line  of  Schenec- 
tady to  the  Mohawk  river,  which  separates  it 
from  the  county  of  Albany,  and  then  along  the 
course  of  the  Mohawk  to  tlie  place  of  beginning, 
about  twenty-five  miles. 

These  lines  include  an  area  of  about  eight  hun- 
dred square  miles,  and  a  population  at  this  time 
of  about  forty  thousand  souls. 

The  greater  part  of  the  lands  included  in  this 
tract  were  originally  granted  by  the  crown  of 
England  to  a  company  of  thirteen  proprietors, 
under  the  title  of  the  Patent  of  Kayaderosseras. 

The  Van  Schaick's  Patent,  so  termed  from  the 
name  of  the  person  to  whom  it  was  granted,  was 
of  an  earlier  date,  and  included  the  present  town 
of  Waterford  and  a  considerable  tract  of  country 
adjoining.  The  Saratoga  Patent  was  next  in  or- 
der, and  embraced  an  extent  of  six  miles  square 
along  the  Hudson  some  miles  above  Van  Schaick's 
Patent.  The  Apple  Patent  was  still  later  ;  it 
was  granted  to  one  William  Apple,  and  was  lo- 
cated on  the  Mohawk,  and  extended  "  tJirce  miles 
hack  into  the  woods"  towards  Ballston  Lake. 

The  history  of  these  grants,  their  settlement 
and  the  subsequent  intercourse  with  the  natives, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  16 

would  form  an*  interesting  document  in  tlic  his- 
tory of  the  country.  Even  at  this  late  period, 
many  important  facts,  hitherto  undisclosed,  miglit 
be  brought  to  light  from  living  witnesses,  which 
a  few  more  years  will  place  beyond  the  power 
of  the  historian  to  recover. 

The  mineral  waters  which  form  the  subject  of 
the  ensuing  treatise  being  situated  principally  in 
the  great  Patent  of  Kayaderosseras,  it  will  not,  I 
trust,  be  deemed  uninteresting  by  most  readers 
to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  history  of  that 
grant,  particularly  as  it  may  tend  to  disclose  the 
true  estimate  which  the  native  proprietors  placed 
upon  these  "  health  preserving  fountains,"  if  in- 
deed they  were  known  to  them  at  all. 

The  first  grant,  of  which  there  is  any  record, 
of  land  in  what  is  now  called  the  Patent  of  Kay- 
aderosseras, in  the  county  of  Saratoga,  was  made 
by  two  Indians,  who,  in  the  conveyance  which 
they  gave  styled  themselves  "  Maquacs  Indians, 
owners  and  native  proprietors  of  the  land." 
They  are  thus  described  in  the  original  inden- 
ture :  "  Ju.s(j)li,  the  Indian,  by  them  called  Te-jon- 
nin-ho-gc,  and  Ilendrick,*  by  them  called  Dc- 
han-och-rak-has,  principal  owners,"  &c. 

■•  'I'liirt  llciidrick  i^  tlic  .same  vvliodislinguislicd  liim.suH'iii  the 
gubso(jucntwars  under  General  William  Johnson,  and  waselaio 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRmO*. 

This  conveyance  was  made  "  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  divers  goods"  to  David  Schuyler 
and  Robert  Livingston,  junior,  yeomen  of  the 
city  of  Albany,  and  is  dated  at  Albany,  the  twen- 
ty-sixth day  of  August,  in  the  first  year  of  her 
majesty's  reign,  (Queen  Anne,)  Anno  Domini^ 
1702.     The  boundaries  arc  thus  described  : 

"  Beginning  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson's 
river  above  Sar-ogh-to-gc's  Patent  ;  beginning 
opposite  the  creek,  called  by  the  Indians,  Ti-on- 
un-do-ga-he,  and  running  along  said  side  of  the 
river  above  the  second  carrying  place  to  a  small 
island  in  said  river,*  and  westward  into  the 
woods  as  far  as  their  property  belongs,  together 
with  all  and  singular,"  &;c. 

In  tlie  spring  following,  8amson  Shelton 
BroughtoDj  Esquire,  attorney-general  of  the  prov- 
ince, in  behalf  of  himself  and  company,  obtained  a 
licence  to  purchase  the  "tract  of  vacant  and  un- 


with  Colonel  Williams, in  1755, in  an  attack  on  a  body  ofFirnelk 
and  Indians  near  Blcody  Pond,  not  far  from  the  head  of  Lake 
George,  being  then  upwards  of  seventy  years  old. 

*  This  spot  is  described  in  another  place  thus  :  "  From  the 
nortli  bounds  of  the  said  Sarotogt;"s  Patent  to  a  place  above  Ihc 
falls  that  licth  in  Hudson  river  above  the  Carrying  Place  that 
f;oes  over  to  the  Wood  Creek  v/li'<_!i  leads  the  wav  to  Canada." 


mSTORY  or  THE  SPRINGS.  17 

appropriated  land  in  the  county  of  Albany,  called 
or  known  by  the  Indian  name  of  Kayadoroseros, 
adjoining  to  the  north  bounds  of  Schonectady  on 
the  east  side  thereof,  to  the  west  bounds  of  So- 
roctoga  on  the  north  side  thereof,  and  to  Albany 
river  on  the  west  side  thereof,  of  the  native  In- 
dians and  proprietors  thereof,  for  their  cultivation 
and  improvement." 

This  licence  was  granted  by  his  excellency, 
Edward  Viscount  Conbury,  captain-general  and 
governor-in-chief  of  the  province  of  New- York 
and  the  territories  depending  thereon  in  America, 
and  vice-admiral  of  the  same.  It  is  dated  at 
Fort  Ann,  in  council,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  the 
twenty-second  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1703. 

In  piH'suancc  of  this  licence  a  purchase  was 
eflbcted  of  the  Indians,  Joseph,  Ilendrick,  Cor- 
neJis,  Gideon  and  Amus,  owners,  proprietors  and 
"  native  Maqueas  Indians  and  sachems,  in  be- 
half of  themselves  and  all  their  nation,  for  and  in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  ($150) 
current  money  of  the  province  of  New- York, 
and  <A'  sundry  goods  to  them  in  hand  paid,"  &c. 
"  by  Sumson  Shelton  IJronghton,  Esquire,  attor- 
ney-gc:neral  of  the  [)r(jviiic(;,  I'eter  Eauconnier, 
ICs<juire,  late  commissioner  of  the  customs,  and 
Nailing  llermanse  Visher,  of  the  city  of  Albany, 


18  IllSTOEY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

mariner,  for  themselves  and  company."  The 
bounds  of  the  tract  thus  granted  are  summed  up 
and  recapitulated  in  the  original  deed  thus : 

"  The  aforesaid  tract  of  land  being  bounded 
below  the  All-Place  and  Schenectady  river  on 
the  west  by  said  river,  then  by  the  said  town- 
ship's bounds  round  about  to  said  river  again, 
and  still  westward  above  the  said  town  by  the 
said  river  again  for  eight  miles  at  least  above 
Twek-to-non-do-hill ;  thence  by  a  north  and  north- 
easterly line  to  the  headmost  spring  of  the  stream 
called  Kayadaroseras  river,  and  still  northerly 
by  a  north  line  continued  to  be  run  eight  miles 
further  up  into  the  woods,  and  yet  still  northerly 
by  a  north  or  northeasterly  line  run  ficmi  thence 
to  Albany  river  above  Sar-og-to-ge,  by  the  town- 
ship of  Sorogtoge,  and  round  the  same  to  said 
river  again  ;  thence  by  said  river  to  Anthony 
Van  Schaick's  northeasterly  corner,  and  souther- 
ly by  a  line  run  from  thence  to  the  northwesterly 
corner  of  Nestiguione  (Niskayuna)  of  Schenec- 
tady river,  the  place  of  beginning." 

This  deed  is  dated  at  Albany,  the  sixth  day  of 
October,  in  the  third  year  of  her  majesty's  reign, 
A.  D.  1704,  and  is  signed  by  all  the  sachems 
above  named,  except  Cornells,  whose  name  does 
not  appear  among  the  signatures. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  19 

Immediately  after  this,  a  relinquishment  of  the 
claim  of  Schuyler  and  Livingston  was  procured 
by  Visher  in  behalf  of  the  company,  for  which 
Schuyler  and  Livingston  were  to  receive  a  cer- 
tain portion  of  the  lands  when  the  patent  should 
be  perfected,  or  in  lieu  thereof  the  sum  of  £100 
($250)  in  money.  On  the  back  of  this  agree- 
ment is  endorsed  a  receipt  signed  by  Livingston 
and  Schuyler,  for  £90  in  full  satisfaction  for  the 
condition. 

These  preliminaries  being  adjusted,  the  patent 
was  sued  for  and  finally  obtained.  It  was  grant- 
ed by  Queen  Anne  in  the  seventh  year  of  her 
reign,  and  is  dated  the  second  day  of  November, 
A.  D.  1708.  The  grant  was  to  "her  loving  sub- 
jects, Naning  Ilcrmanse,  Johannes  Beekman, 
Rip  Van  Dam,  Ann  Bridges,  May  Bickley,  Peter 
Fauconnier,  Adrian  llogelandt,  Johannes  Fisher, 
John  Tuder,  Joris  llogelandt,  John  Stevens,  John 
Tatham  and  Samson  Broughton,"  and  is  "  for  all 
that  tract  of  land  situated,  lying  and  being  in 
the  county  of  Albany,  called  Kayaduroscs,  alias 
QueenshoruugJi." 

The  bounds  of  this  extensive  tract  of  land  which 
has  become  so  interesling  to  the  present  genera- 
tion, arc  here  copied  verbatim  from  the  original 
patent : 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

"  Beginning  at  a  place  on  Schonectady  river* 
about  three  miles  distant  from  the  southwesterly 
corner  of  the  bounds  of  Nastiguione,  the  said 
place  being  the  southwesterly  corner  of  the  pat- 
ent lately  granted  to  Naning  Harmense,  Peter 
Fauconnier  and  others ;  thence  along  the  said 
Schonectady  river,  westerly  to  the  southeasterly 
corner  of  a  patent  lately  granted  to  William  Ap- 
ple ;  thence  along  the  easterly,  northerly  and 
westerly  line  of  the  said  Apple's  Patent  down  to 
the  above  said  river ;  thence  to  the  Schonectady 
bounds  of  the  southeasterly  corner  of  the  said 
patent,  on  the  said  river,  so  along  the  easterly, 
northerly  and  westerly  bounds  thereof  down  to 
the  said  river  again  ;  thence  along  the  said  river 
up  westerly  to  the  southeasterly  bounds  of  a  tract 
of  land  lately  granted  to  Ebenezer  Wilson  and 
John  Abel  and  so  along  the  said  patent  round  to 
the  southwesterly  corner  thereof  on  the  said 
Schonectady  river  to  a  place  or  hill  called  Twac- 
tononda,  being  five  miles  distant,  or  thereabouts, 
from  the  said  southwesterly  corner  of  the  said 
Wilson's  and  Abel's  Patent ;  thence  along  north- 
erly to  the  northwestmost  head  of  a  creek  called 
Kayadoroses,  about  fourteen  miles,  more  or  less  ; 


*  This  river  in  another  place  is  st^-led  "  Schonectady,  Mo» 
haks,  or  Maqueas  river." 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRmOS.  21 

thence  eight  miles  more  northerly ;  thence  east- 
erly or  northeasterly  to  the  third  falls  on  Albany 
river,  about  twenty  miles,  more  or  less ;  thence 
along  the  said  river  down  southerly  to  the  north- 
easterly bounds  of  Saroghtoge ;  thence  along  the 
said  Saroghtoge's  northerly,  westerly  and  south- 
erly bounds  on  the  said  river  ;  thence  to  the  north- 
easterly comer  of  Anthony  Van  Schaick's  land 
on  the  said  river,  so  northerly  and  westerly  along 
tlie  said  Van  Schaick's  Patent  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  above  said  patent  granted  to  Naning 
Harmense,  Fauconnier  and  others  ;  thence  along 
the  northerly  and  westerly  bounds  thereof  down 
to  the  above  said  river  of  Schoncctady,  being  the 
place  where  it  first  began." 

The  consideration  for  all  the  lands  contained  in 
the  foregoing  limits,  was  merely  £4  (810)  quit  rent 
to  ha  paid,  in  current  money  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  yearly  forever,  on  the  "  Feast  day  of  the 
annonciation  of  our  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  (com- 
monly called  Lady  Day,")  to  the  collector  or 
receiver-general  at  the  custom  house,  in  the  city 
of  New-York ;  tlic  crown  reserving  to  itself  all 
gold  and  silver  mines,  and  conditioning  that  one 
or  more  settlement  on  some  part  thereof  should 
be  effected  within  seven  years  from  the  date  ol 
the  said  patent. 


22  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

This  last  stipulation  was  entirely  neglected 
until  the  seventeenth  of  October,  1715,  when  the 
company  becoming  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of 
forfeiting  the  patent  from  this  neglect,  the  major 
part  of  them  entered  into  an  agreement  with 
Naning  Hermense,  of  Albany,  to  effect  a  settle- 
ment on  the  said  lands,  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  May  ensuing,  and  he  was  to  receive  in  consid- 
eration for  his  services,  one  thousand  acres  of 
land,  over  and  above  his  share,  to  be  located  any 
where  in  the  patent,  excepting  on  the  Kayadcros- 
seras  creek,  where,  it  seems,  the  lands  were  held 
in  much  higher  estimation  than  in  any  other  part 
of  the  tract. 

It  does  not  appear,  from  any  documents  which 
I  have  the  means  of  examining,  where  the  first 
settlement  was  made  ;  but  it  is  highly  probable, 
from  the  frequent  discomfitures  among  the  remote 
settlers  occasioned  by  the  incursions  of  hostile  In- 
dians in  the  vicinity,  that  the  first  settlers  did  not 
remove  very  far  into  the  interior  ;  doubtless  they 
were  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Schenectady  or 
along  the  north  side  of  tlie  Mohawk. 

On  the  Hudson,  settlements  might  have  been 
made  much  earlier,  particularly  on  the  patents  of 
Van  Schaick  and  Saratoga  ;  but  it  does  not  ap- 
pear that  there  were,  at  the  period  to  which  we 


HISTORY  OP  THE  SPRINGS.  23 

allude,  (1715,)  any  settlements  above  the  patent  of 
Saratoga,  that  is,  north  of  the  Fish  creek,  or  what 
is  now  called  Schuylerville  ;  and  there  could  have 
been  but  a  few  scattering  inhabitants,  between 
that  and  the  Mohawk.  It  was  in  the  year  1747 
that  the  town  of  Saratoga  was  burnt  by  the  In- 
dians, and  the  inhabitants,  consisting  of  about 
thirty  families,  were  mostly  massacred  ;*  and 
about  the  same  time  the  family  of  Kettles  were 
murdered  by  the  savages.  This  latter  circum- 
stance forms  the  subject  of  a  story,  interestingly 
told  by  Mrs,  Ten  Eyck.  The  place  where  the 
family  resided  was  but  six  miles  above  Water- 
ford,  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson, 
nearly  opposite  to  what  is  called  the  lower 
borough  in  Schaghticoke,  and  on  the  farm  lately 
owned  by  John  Ten  Broeck,  and  more  recently 
by  one  Strachan.  The  ruins  of  the  cellar  were 
visible,  and  a  few  aged  fruit  trees,  said  to  have 
been  planted  by  the  family,  were  in  blossom,  when 
I  last  visited  the  place,  a  few  years  since. 

From  the  period   above  alluded  to  until  the 
final  conquest  and  consequent  subjection  of  the 


♦  This  sf;ttlemont  wqh  at  the  mouth  of  Fish  creek,  M'liere 
Schiiylprvillc  now  stands,  and  a  fieiillcman  by  the  name  of  John 
Schuyler,  one  of  the  ancestors  of  the  present  proprietor  of  that 
village,  was  among  llie  slain. 


24  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

province  of  Canada  to  the  British  government,  the 
progress  of  emigration  to  this  part  of  the  country, 
which  was  then  an  exposed  frontier,  was  greatly 
retarded. 

During  the  summer  of  1755,  the  fort  was  com- 
menced and  completed  at  Fort  Edward,  which 
was  then  called  the  "  Great  Carrying  Place" 
and  at  the  same  time  a  road  was  cut  through  the 
woods  to  the  head  of  Lake  George,  where  the 
Fort  William  Henry  was  commenced  and  a  small 
garrison  established  at  both  places.  This  added 
greatly  to  the  security  of  the  settlements  to  the 
south  ;  but  it  was  not  until  the  arrival  of  General 
Amherst  in  the  year  1759,  who  passed  np  the 
Hudson  and  through  the  lake  to  Canada,  and 
completed  the  subjugation  of  that  province,  that 
the  incursions  of  the  hostile  Indians  were  etfectu- 
ally  checked,  and  complete  security  restored  to 
the  frontier  settlers. 

From  this  period  the  country  began  to  be  more 
rapidly  settled  ;  the  settlements,  however,  were 
principally  confined,  for  several  years,  to  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson  or  the  ]Moha\vk.  The  ex- 
treme fertility  of  the  soil,  tiie  advantages  of  mill 
seats,  and  the  tacility  of  cutting  timber,  gave  to 
the  neighborhood  of  these  and  their  tributary 
streams,  an  advantage  that  was  not  to  be  over- 


HISTORY 


o:^  THE  SPRINGS.  25 


looked  by  the  adventurous  and  enterprising  emi- 
grants. 

At  what  precise  period  of  time  the  mineral 
springs,  which  have  now  become  so  important  in 
the  history  of  the  country,  were  discovered  and 
their  properties  first  observed,  cannot  now,  with 
any  degree  of  certainty,  be  ascertained.  It  is 
but  reasonable,  however,  to  uifer  that  the  discov- 
ery was  sometime  subsequent  to  the  transfer  of 
the  title  by  the  natives,  as  that  circumstance  took 
place  without  any  intimation  as  to  the  fact  of  the 
existence  of  such  waters,  wliich  could  hardly  be 
supposed  to  have  happened  had  any  importance 
I'Ocn  attached  to  their  properties,  or  had  they. 
indeed,  been  known  to  exist  at  all ;  and  it  is 
equally  probable  that  those  to  whom  the  transfer 
was  made  were  likewise  ignorant  on  the  subject, 
tor  ihey  made,  some  years  afterwards,  grants  to 
individuals  with  the  privilege  to  locate  any  iv/icrc 
'jxcept  on  the  flats  of  the  Kayadcrosseras. 

The  fame  which  this  part  of  the  coimtry  had 
long  sustained  as  a  hunting  ground  must  have 
attracted  the  attention  of  those  who  occupied 
ihcmselvcs  in  the  labors  of  the  chase  at  a  very 
early  period,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  an  ob- 
ject so  singular  and  consj)icuous  as  the  Iligli 
ll'jck  would  have  presented  itself  to  the  attention 

c 


26  HISTORY  OF  TIIE  SPRINGS. 

of  some  of  these  adventurers  at  a  much  earlier 
period  than  is  now  generally  known ;  but  what- 
ever might  have  been  the  knowledge  of  individu- 
als, it  is  certain  that  but  little  general  information 
had  been  diffused  on  the  subject  until  "about  the 
year  1767. 

General  William  Johnson,  who  had  retired 
from  his  command  in  the  army  with  the  title  of 
Baronet,  conferred  by  his  Britannic  majesty  as  a 
special  favor  for  his  brave  defence  of  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry,  now  resided  at  Johnstown,  about 
thirty  miles  west  of  the  Springs,  in  the  capacity 
of  Indian  agent.  Sir  William  being  indisposed* 
and  finding  little  or  no  benefit  from  the  applica- 
tion of  such  limited  means  as  his  situation  ena- 
bled him  to  apply,  was  induced,  at  the  instigation 
of  the  Indians,  with  whom  he  was  always  a  great 
favorite,  to  undertake  a  journey  to  the  Springs, 
and  in  the  month  of  June  or  July,  he  set  out  on 
the  expedition.  They  passed  down  the  Moliawk 
to  Schenectady,  from  whence  they  travelled 
through  the  woods  to  Ballston  Lake  ;  here  they 
tarried  over  night  at  the  hut  of  one  Michael  Mc- 
Donald, a  Scotch  adventurer,  who,  with  a  young 


*  Sir  William  was  -wounded  in  the  defence  of  the  garrison  of 
Lake  George,  and  tlic  wound,  ahhough  shght  at  iirst,  continu- 
ed to  trouble  him  the  remainder  of  his  days. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  27 

family,  had  just  commenced  a  settlement  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness.* 

On  the  following  day,  accompanied  by  Mc- 
Donald and  his  Indian  guides,  Sir  William  arriv- 
ed at  the  High  Rock  Spring,  then  the  only  one 
known;  here  he  remained  a  number  of  days,  be- 
ing well  supplied  with  provisions  by  the  dexterity 
of  his  hunters,  and  the  whole  company  regaling 
themselves  with  large  potations  of  the  water,  of 
which  they  soon  became  remarkably  fond. 

At  the  termination  of  his  residence  here,  Sir 
William's  health  became  perfectly  reinstated,  and 
although  he  had  been  brought  to  the  place  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  on  a  litter  borne  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  Indians,  he  was  enabled  to  travel 
back  to  Schenectady  on  foot. 

The  fame  of  this  extraordinary  cure  on  a  per- 
sonage so  distinguished  as  Sir  William,  soon 
s])i-cad  over  the  country,  and  from  this  period 
'•  The  Springs"  began  to  be  the  resort  of  in- 
valids. 


♦  McDonald  continued  to  reside  on  the  same  spot,  until  a  few 
Yoar.i  since,  when  he  died,  Ijting  upwards  of  eighty  years  old, 
luaving  a  tine  well  cultivated  farm  as  a  patrimony  to  a  large 
fuMiily. 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

In  the  year  1770  and  '71  several  families  loca- 
ted themselves  on  the  highlands  on  the  east  side 
of  Saratoga  Lake,  a  little  to  the  southeast  of 
Snake  Hill ;  and  about  the  same  time,  John 
Laing,  Roland  Perry  and  John  Stiles,  settled  at 
Palmertown,  (now  Wilton.)  about  six  miles  nortli- 
east  from  the  Springs.  From  these  settlements,  ex- 
cursions were  frequently  made  to  the  High  Rock 
through  paths  that  were  only  passable  on  foot. 

In  the  3'ear  1773,  one  Dirck  Scowton,  influ- 
enced by  a  desire  to  trade  with  the  Indians  as 
well  as  to  afford  accommodations  to  visitants, 
commenced  a  settlement  on  the  high  bank  a  little 
west  of  the  High  Rock  on  the  spot  where  Bent- 
ley's  tavern  now  stands.  Here  ho  cut  down  a 
few  trees,  and  with  the  assistance  of  several  per- 
sons who  accompanied  him  for  the  purpose,  they 
were  rolled  up  to  form  a  hut ;  but  before  he  had 
time  to  render  it  sufficiently  comfortable  for  n 
dwelling,  owing,  as  it  was  said,  to  some  misunder- 
standing with  the  Indians,  he  was  induced  to 
abandon  his  project,  and  it  is  believed  tliat  hz 
never  afterwards  returned. 

During  the  following  season  one  John  Arnold 
arrived  from  the  state  of  Rhode-Island,  with  a 
young  family,  at  the  east  side  of  Saratoga  Lake, 
and  from  the  representations  made  to  him.  bx 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  29 

was  induced  to  try  his  fortunes  at  the  Springs. 
Having  provided  himself  with  a  few  articles  suit- 
able for  Indian  traffic,  consisting  mostly  of  spirit- 
uous liquors,  he  embarked  his  little  stock  in  trade, 
together  with  his  family  and  a  few  necessary 
articles  of  furniture,  on  board  of  a  canoe  near 
Snake  Hill,  paddled  across  the  lake  and  up  the 
Kayadcrosscras  creek  about  two  miles  ;  here  he 
landed,  and  taking  their  goods  upon  their  backs, 
tiicy  followed  a  foot  path  which  conducted  them 
tiirough  the  woods  to  the  Spruigs. 

On  their  arrival,  Arnold  took  possession  of  the 
house  that  had  been  built  by  Scowton,  and  hav- 
ing improved  it  so  as  to  render  it  comfortable  for 
his  family,  he  opened  a  kind  of  rude  tavern. 

Mr.  Tiiomas  Arnold,  a  highly  respectable  far- 
mer, is  now  living  in  the  town  of  Stillwater, 
about  eight  miles  from  the  Springs.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  Arnold,  and  accompanied  the  family 
during  their  residence  at  the  place,  and  altliouoh 
but  nine  years  old  at  the  time,  retains  a  perfect 
rcc(jl!ection  of  the  appearance  of  the  country 
and  the  circumstances  relating  to  his  father's  res- 
idence here. 

The  valley  along  the  Ijrook  was  covered  by  large 
trees  of  licmluck,  elm  and  maple ;  and  the  !.>aiik 
c  ' 


so  mSTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS; 

on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  with  a  thick  growth 
of  overgrown  white  pine,  while  the  opposite  side 
was  a  perfect  thicket  of  yellow  and  pitch  pine. 

The  High  Rock  and  Flat  Rock  were  the  only 
springs  at  that  time  known.  The  hole  or  open- 
ing at  the  top  of  the  High  Rock  was  at  tiraes^ 
nearly  filled  with  water,  but  this  only  happened 
in  wet  seasons  or  during  long  periods  of  wet 
weather.  The  water  usually  stood  some  inches 
below  the  top  of  the  hole  where  its  surface  was 
in  a  constant  state  of  agitation.  This  agitation, 
when  the  hole  was  nearly  full  of  water,  would,  at 
times,  cause  it  to  surge  over  and  run  down  its 
sides,  but  this  very  seldom  happened.  There 
was  nothing  like  a  constant  discharge  from  the 
top  of  the  rock  at  any  time.  The  water,  how- 
ever, was  at  all  times  so  high  as  to  be  easily  dipped 
with  the  hand.*  There  were  the  remains  of  a 
small  hut  or  cabin  near  the  rock,  probably  the  one 
built  by  Sir  William  Johnson. 


*  This  rising  and  falling  of  the  water  in  the  rock  gave  origui 
to  the  opinion  entertained  by  the  first  visitants,  that  it  "eiied 
tiCidjlowtd  with  the  tide."  The  water,  although  now  some  feel 
below  the  top  of  the  rock,  still  continues  to  rise  and  fall  with  the 
state  of  the  season,  as  any  one  may  observe  who  will  take  th': 
trouble  to  measure  it  at  the  proper  times. 


IIISTOnY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  31 

The  Flat  Rock  covered  a  quanlity  of  ground  of 
several  rods  in  extent ;  it  was  considerably  eleva- 
ted above  the  marsh  or  swamp  which  surrounded 
it ;  the  surface  was  flat  and  hard,  and  was  perfo- 
rated in  numerous  places,  where  the  water  stood 
in  little  pools,  through  the  bottom  of  which  it  was 
constantly  bubbling  up.  The  marsh  and  grounds 
about  the  rock  were  much  broken  and  trodden  up 
by  the  footsteps  of  wild  animals  which  flocked 
here  in  great  numbers  to  drink  of  the  water,  of 
which,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  they  were 
voraciously  fond.  Deer  and  moose  would,  at 
times,  when  in  pursuit  of  this  beverage,  appa- 
rently lose  their  w^ildness  and  suffer  themselves 
to  be  closely  approached,  and  they  were  fre- 
quently shot  by  the  Indians,  and  other  hunters, 
while  regaling  themselves  at  this  fountain. 

The  woods  abounded  with  wild  game.  Bears, 
deer,  wolves  and  moose  were  seen  almost  every 
day ;  and  the  small  stream  which  runs  through 
the  valley  was  the  abode  of  beaver  and  great 
quantities  of  salmon  trout. 

There  were  sixteen  cabins  occupied  by  differ- 
ent families  of  Indians,  all  in  sight  of  Arnold's 
house.  These  Indians  were  principally  employ- 
ed in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  although  frequent- 
ly intoxicated,  they  were  generally  inoftcnsivo 
and  friend  Iv. 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

There  was  a  small  clearing  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  south  from  where  the  Union  Hall  now  stands. 
This  was  probably  the  first  cleared  spot  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Springs.  It  was  said  to  have  been 
done  by  a  man  who  went  by  the  name  of  Indian 
Joe,  a  half  blood,  who  resided  among  the  Indians 
in  the  neighborhood. 

On  the  approach  of  winter,  Arnold  shut  up  his 
house  and  went  over  to  the  settlement  on  the  east 
side  of  the  lake,  but  returned  early  in  the  spring 
and  resumed  his  business,  which  he  continued, 
however,  till  fall  only,  when  he  again  left  the 
place.  He  was  succeeded  by  one  Samuel  Nor- 
ton, who  had  previously  obtained  a  permission 
from  Isaac  Low  to  occupy  and  improve  a  farm 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  "salt  spring"  at  Saratoga, 
under  a  stipulation  to  receive  pay  for  his  improve- 
ments should  he  think  proper  at  any  time  to  re- 
move. Low  had  acquired  his  title  to  the  soil  by 
purchase  from  the  heirs  of  Rip  Van  Dam,  to 
whom,  on  the  general  partition  of  the  patent,  this 
portion  of  it  devolved.* 


*  111  1770  the  patent  was  tlivided,  and  lot  number  twelve, 
(which  includes  the  mineral  waters  and  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  adjoining  lands  at  Saratoga  Springs,)  in  the  sixteenth 
general  allotment,  was  sold  by  the  representatives  of  Rip  Van 
Dam  to  Anthony  Van  Dam,  Jacob  Walton  and  Isaac  Low. 


UISTORY  OF  TIIE  SPRINGS.  33 

Norton  took  possession  of  the  house  the  same 
season  tliat  Arnold  left  it,  and  continued  to  make 
considerable  improvements  by  clearing  up  the 
land,  (fcc.  through  the  succeeding  season.  But 
the  war  of  the  revolution,  which  had  already 
conmicnced,  was  now  becoming  every  day  more 
and  more  serious,  and  he  began  to  be  alarmed 
for  the  safety  of  his  family,  and  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  remove  them  from  a  situation  w  here  they 
were  so  much  exposed  to  the  aggressions  of  the 
contending  parties.  He  finally  joined  the  British 
army,  where  ho  soon  after  died,  and  the  Springs 
were  again  left  without  a  single  inhabitant. 

Low  absented  himself  from  the  county  during 
the  war,  and  his  lands  were  of  course  sold  by  the 
commissioners  of  forfeitures;  those  which  he  own- 
ed at  the  Sj>rings  w^ere  sold  to  Henry  Livingston 
in  nSG,  for  himself  and  brothcis. 

In  the  spring  of  1783,  a  son  of  Norton  resum- 
ed the  occupancy  of  the  former  possessions  of  his 
father  at  the  Springs,  and  continued  to  clear  and 
improve  the  land  in  the  vicinity  until  the  year 
1787,  when  lie  sold  his  possessions  and  improve- 
menls  to  one  Gideon  Morgan,  who  the  same  year 
transferred  them  to  Alexander  Bryant.  Bryant 
must  be  considered  the  first  permanent  settler 
here  after  the  close  of  the  war :  he  Ijuilt  a  black- 


34  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

smith's  shop,  and  erected  an  additional  log  house 
which  he  opened  for  the  accommodation  of  visit- 
^pts;  and  there  are  persons  yet  living  who  recol- 
lect with  peculiar  pleasure,  the  clean  apartments 
and  comfortable  accommodations  afforded  by  the 
proprietor  of  this  humble  mansion.* 

In   the   year  1783,  General   Philip  Schuyler, 
who  had  a  farm  and  a  number  of  mills  at  the 


*  Bryant  was  a  slirewd  and  somewhat  of  an  eccentric  cliarac- 
tcr,  and  the  events  of  his  Hfe,  if  generally  known,  would  un- 
doubtedly place  liis  name  among  the  patriots  of  his  time,  and 
furnish  a  deserved  monument  to  his  memory. 

He  was,  I  believe,  a  native  of  the  state  of  Connecticut ;  but 
emigrated  to  that  of  New-York  early  in  liic,  and  fixed  his  resi- 
dence in  the  county  of  Dutchess.  Here  he  connected  himself 
by  marriage  with  a  highly  respectable  farnil}-,  and  some  years 
alter  removed  to  the  town  of  llalfmoon,  in  the  county  of  Sara- 
toga, where  he  commenced  the  business  of  tavern  keeping  at  a 
place  situated  about  two  miles  above  Watcrford,  on  what  was 
then  the  great  road  wliich  furnished  the  principal  means  of  com- 
munication between  the  northern  and  southern  frontiers.  On 
this  spot  he  continued  to  reside  during  the  war  oftherevolu- 
tion,  and  his  house,  of  course,  became  frequently  the  resort  of 
the  partisans  of  the  contending  powers;  and  such  was»the 
adroitness  of  his  management  that  he  became  the  unreserved 
confidant  of  both  parties,  without  even  being  once  suspected  of 
treachery  by  eitlicr.  Of  his  patriotism,  however,  and  his  sin- 
cere attaclimcnt  to  the  interests  of  his  country,  tliere  cannot  ex- 
ist a  doubt.  The  important  secrets  which  he  frequently  obtain- 
ed from  his  confiding  friends,  the  torics,  were  soon  disclosed 
to  the  committees  of  safety,  with  whom  he  managed  to  keep  a 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  35 

mouth  of  the  Fish-Creek,  caused  a  road  to  be 
opened  from  that  place  to  the  Springs,  and  hav- 
ing set  up  a  large  wall  tent  near  the  High  Roclj, 
occupied  it  with  his  family  for  the  space  of  three 
or  four  weeks.  They  were  so  well  pleased  with 
the  result  of  this  visit,  that  the  following  season 
he  caused  a  small  frame  building  to  be  erected 
on  the  high  land  a  httle  southwest  from  the  High 
Hock,  where  he  continued  to  reside  five  or  six 


constant  although  a  secret  communication.  The  numerous 
and  essential  services  wiiich  he  thus  rendered  to  his  country 
continued  for  a  long  time  to  excite  the  admiration  and  grati- 
tude of  his  few  s\irviving  associates,  to  whom  alone  they  were 
known  and  by  whom  their  importance  could  only  be  properly 
e.-timated  :  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that,  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  tlicy  remained  unacknowledged  and  unrewarded  by  any 
token  or  profession  of  gratitude  from  his  country. 

W  lien  Gen.  Gates  took  the  command  of  the  northcr.n  army, 
iic  a[U)lied  to  the  committee  of  safety  of  Stillwater,  to  provide  a 
suitable  person  to  go  into  Burgoyne's  camp,  with  a  view  to  ob- 
la;;i  a  knowledge  of  the  muviments  of  the  enemy,  Bryant  was 
;.nnK  iliately  scbctedas  a  person  well  ([ualified  to  undertake  the 
liazardi'us  entcrprize,  and  he  readily  agreed  to  accomplish  iL 
Abofit  the  same  time  he  was  ap|)lie(l  to  by  a  friend  of  the  ene- 
my to  convey  some  mtclligence  which  he  deemed  of  importance 
to  Burnovne  ;  this  he  likewise  undertook,  having  secretly  obtain- 
ed th.j  consent  of  Gen.  Gates  for  that  purpose.  By  pursuing  a 
circuitdii-  route,  he  arrived  unmolested  at  llie  camp  of  the  cnc- 
mv,  winch  was  tlien  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Edward. 
Ilavm;:  liad  several  intervii'ws  with  Gen.  Burgoyne,  by  whom 
]:■:  wa-  rlos'ly  c.xanMiiCil,  iic  was  finally  employed  by  tliat  ofi)» 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

weeks  every  year  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  This  house  was  standing  until  a  few  years 
past ;  it  consisted  of  two  rooms,  with  a  stone  fire 
place  and  chimney ;  it  was  enclosed  and  lined 
with  rough  boards,  and  was  the  first  framed  house 
built  in  the  place. 

In  the  year  1780,  a  Dr.  Blakesley  and  Gideon 
Putnam  commenced  a  settlement  at  the  Springs. 


cer  to  superintend  some  concerns  in  the  ordnance  department. 
He  tarried  sufficiently  long  to  obtain  the  required  information, 
v.'hen  he  privately  left  the  camp  in  the  gray  of  the  morning  of 
the  15th  of  vSeptember;  but  he  had  not  proceeded  many  miles 
before  he  discovered  that  he  was  pursued  by  two  horsemen  ; 
these,  however,  he  contrived  to  avoid,  and  arrived  safely  at  Gates' 
head-quarters  late  on  the  following  night,  and  communicated 
the  first  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  liaving  crossed  the  Hudson 
and  being  on  the  advance  to  Stillwater.  This  intelligence  was 
of  great  importance,  as  it  led  to  the  immediate  preparation  for 
the  sanguinary  engagement  winch  ensued  on  the  19th  of  tlie 
same  month. 

Bryant  continued  to  rcsi.ie  at  the  Springs  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  and  until  age  had  rendered  him  incompetent  for  active 
life.  He  then  retired  to  the  county  of  Scoharie,  where  he  died 
at  an  advanced  age.  He  possessed  a  strong  constitution,  a 
sound  and  vigorous  mind,  and  a  benevolent  and  kind  disposi- 
tion. The  poor,  the  miserable  and  the  unfortunate  were  al- 
ways the  objects  of  his  care,  his  kindness  and  his  charily.  But 
his  eccentricities  often  involved  him  in  difOcultirs  with  his  more 
opulent  neighbors,  and,  at  times,  disturbed  the  tranquillity  ofhis 
raost  intimate  frierul?. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  37 

Blakesley  occupied  the  log  building  erected  by 
Scowton,  and  Putnam  located  on  a  new  farm 
three  fourths  of  a  mile  westerly  from  the  village. 
It  is  to  the  enterprize  of  this  latter  gentleman  that 
the  village  is  indebted  for  much  of  its  early  im- 
provement, and  the  public  for  the  first  elegant  and 
commodious  accommodations  which  the  place 
afforded. 

In  the  year  following,  (1790,)  Benjamin  Risley, 
Esquire,  from  Vermont,  bought  the  house  whicfi 
Scowton  built,  and  having  erected  some  addi- 
tions, opened  it  for  the  accommodation  of  visit- 
ants. This,  and  the  house  kept  by  Bryant  on  the 
opposite  comer,  and  but  a  few  rods  distant,  con- 
tinued to  be  rival  establishments  for  a  number  of 
years.  Risley,  a  few  years  after,  built  the  yellow 
house  near  the  upper  end  of  the  village,  which 
has  been  occupied  as  a  tavern  ever  since.  He 
likewise  built  a  small  house  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street,  nearly  against  the  yellow  tavern, 
which  was  occupied  for  a  time  as  a  boarding 
house,  but  was,  some  vears  since,  burnt  down. ' 


♦  This  fire  happened  in  Juno,  1807,  two  dwelling  houses  and 

several  out  buildings   were  destroyed,  and  an  aged  gcntlciniui 

hy  the  name  of  Miller,  from  the  town  of  Diirninerf^ton,  in  Mas- 

L-aehutcttH,  who  lodcred  in  an  upper  room    in  one  o! 'he  imiM- 

I) 


38  HISTORY  OF  TUE  SPRINGS. 

About  the  year  1794,  the  Messrs.  John  andZi- 
ba  Taylor  opened  a  small  store  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  Risley's  house.  They  afterwards  built 
a  small  log  house  which  they  occupied  for  the 
same  purpose  ;  this  stood  on  the  high  land,  forty 
or  fifty  rods  north  from  the  High  Rock  Spring, 
but  every  vestige  of  it  has  long  since  disappear- 
ed. These  gentlemen  subsequently  erected  mills 
in  the  vicinity,  and  contributed  much  to  the  clear- 
ing and  improving  the  surrounding  country. 

During  the  summer  of  1792  the  Congress 
Spring  vv'as  first  discovered.  Three  gentlemen 
were  boarding  at  Risley's  who  frequently  amused 
themselves  by  hunting  for  small  game  in  the 
neighboriiig  woods.  One  of  them,  John  Taylor 
Gilman,  of  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  (afterwards 
Governor  of  that  state,)  and  who  then  was,  or 
had  be  jn  a  member  of  congress,  accidently  dis- 
covered a  small  stream  of  water  issuing  from  an 
aperture  in  the  side  of  a  rock,  the  face  of  which 
formed  the  border  of  the  brook.  An  appearanc-e 
so  singular  attracted  his  attention,  and  on  exam- 
ining it  more  attentively  he  found  it  to  be  a  strong 
mineral  water.  He  communicated  the  discovery 
to  his  associates,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 


ings,  lost  las  life  by  jumping  from  the  windoM'  of  his  apart- 
ment. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  39 

day  he  conducted  his  landlord,  together  with 
a  number  of  other  persons,  to  the  spot.  It  was 
situated  a  few  feet  further  west  and  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  brook  from  where  the  Congress 
spring  now  is.  The  water  issued  from  an  aper- 
ture which  resembled  a  worm  hole  in  one  of 
those  large  masses  of  silicious  lime  rock  which 
form  the  upper  stratum  of  the  rock  formation  at 
this  place.  Its  taste  and  other  sensible  qualities 
satisfied  tiie  company  that  the  discovery  was  an 
important  one  ;  and  the  spring  was  immediately 
dignified  by  the  consent  of  all  the  persons  pres- 
ent, with  the  name  of  the  CONGRESS  SPRING, 
out  of  respect  to  the  discoverer,  and  as  a  compli- 
ment to  the  superior  strength  of  its  waters. 

About  the  year  1770  it  is  said  that  a  Dr.  Con- 
stable, who  resided  at  Schenectady,  examined 
the  waters  at  Saratoga  and  Ballston,  and  pro- 
nounced them  highly  medicinal ;  and  in  1783,  Dr. 
Samuel  Tenny,  a  regimental  surgeon  stationed  at 
Fish-creek,  visited  the  Springs,  and  made  some 
interesting  and  judicious  remarks  on  their  prop- 
erties and  uses  as  a  medicine.  The  result  of  his 
-observations  he  addressed  in  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Joshua  Fisher,  of  Boston,  which  was  subsequent- 
ly published  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  American 
Aca<lemy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  vol.  II,  part  I, 
17H3. 


10  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

The  venerable  Samuel  L.  Mitchill,  LL.  D.  of 
the  city  of  New-York,  records  it  as  one  of  the 
remarkable  incidents  of  his  life,  that  in  the  year 
1787,  he  "visited  the  Springs  at  Saratoga  while 
surrounded  by  the  forest,  and  ascertained  experi- 
mentally that  the  gas  extricated  from  the  water 
wsis  fixed  air,  with  the  power  to  extinguish  flame 
and  destroy  the  life  of  breathing  animals." 

It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  there  was 
any  attempt  at  a  scientific  examination  of  these 
waters  until  the  year  1793,  when  Valentine  Sea- 
man, M.  J),  then  one  of  the  surgeons  of  the  New- 
York  Hospital,  and  an  eminent  physician  of  the 
city,  published  •'  A  Dissertation  on  the  mineral 
waters  of  Saratoga."  His  chemical  experiments 
were  principally  confined  to  the  water  of  the 
High  Rock  spring  ;  and  to  him  very  justly  be- 
longs the  honor  of  first  developing  the  time  char- 
acter and  qualities  of  these  interesting  fountains. 
From  the  result  of  his  enquiries  he  inferred  and 
published  his  views  on  the  "  use  and  medical  vir- 
tues of  the  waters."  In  the  year  1795,  Dr.  Yan- 
dervoort  published  the  result  of  his  experiments 
on  the  waters  of  Ballston. 

These  publications  had  the  effect  to  produce  a 
more  general  knowledge  of  the  properties  of  the 
waters,  and  to  confirm  tlic  ffood  opinion  whid-. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  41 

had  already  been  formed  of  their  efficacy  in 
many  complaints.  The  consequence  was  an  in- 
crease of  company  to  such  an  extent  as  to  evince 
the  necessity  of  more  extensive  and  better  ar- 
ranged accommodations.  Influenced  by  this 
consideration,  Mr.  Putnam,  whose  enterprize  was 
always  active,  was  induced  to  build  a  large  and 
commodious  house  near  the  Congress  spring, 
around  which,  at  the  time,  the  country  was  a 
perfect  wilderness.  lie  commenced  it  in  ISOO, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1802  the  Union  Hall,  then 
called  Putnam's  tavern,*  was  opened  for  compa- 
ny. It  consisted  of  a  large  dining  room,  two  par- 
lours and  a  commodious  kitchen  on  the  first  floor, 
and  the  two  upper  stories  were  divided  into  lodg- 
ing rooms. 

In  ISOS,  Jotham  Holmes,  who  had  before  kept 
a  house  near  the  High  Rock,  commenced  build- 
ing the  Columbian  Hotel  near  the  Flat  Rock, 
ant  J  the  tollowing  season  it  was  opened  for  com- 
pany. Tlic  success  which  attended  these  first 
eflurts  induced  Mp.  l^utnam  to  extend  the  means 
of  accommodation  still  further.  He  added  con- 
siderably to  the  dimensions  of  the  Union  Hall, 
and  in   Is  12   commenced  the  Conjrrcss   Hall  on 


♦  The  sicn  '.va.-  a  ruilcly  painted  rcpri'Scnlali'jn  of  t!ic  alory 
of  rutnini  and  the  voT 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS, 

the  opposite  side  of  the  street ;  but  before  it  was^ 
completed,  its  worthy  and  enterprizing  proprie- 
tor died,  and  the  completion  of  the  building  was 
consequently  delayed  until  the  fall  of  1814,  when 
it  was  sold  to  Graudus  Van  Schoonhovcn,  who 
finished  it,  and  in  the  spring  of  1815  it  was 
opened. 

From  this  period,  the  character  of  the  waters, 
and  the  excellency  of  the  accommodations  af- 
forded to  visitants,  began  to  be  more  generally 
known  and  more  justly  appreciated  ;  and  the  lit- 
tle village,  as  it  emerged  from  the  surrounding 
wilderness,  began  to  present  the  appearance  of  a 
place  of  fashion  and  extravagance,  and  from  be- 
ing the  mere  humble  abode  of  the  indigent  and 
infirm,  suddenly  became  the  resort  of  the  most 
polite  and  polished  society.  Such  was  the  rapid 
increase  of  company,  that  it  became  necessary 
that  still  further  accommodations  should  be  pro- 
vided ;  and  in  1819,  the  Pavilion  was  opened  by 
Mr.  Lewis,  and  in  1824,  the  United  Stales  Hotel 
by  Mr.  Ford.  All  these  csiablishments  have 
from  time  to  time  been  enlarged  and  improved, 
until  they  may  be  ranked  among  the  most  spa- 
cious and  imposing  buildings  of  the  kind  in  the 
United  States  ;  and  for  good  fare  and  polite  at- 
tentions, will  not  suffer  by  a  comparison  with 
•  hose  of  any  countrv. 


IIISTORy  OF  THE  SPRINGS.  43 

The  village  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature  in  the  spring  of  1827.  It  contains 
about  three  hundred  dwelling  houses,  five  church- 
es, a  printing  oflice  and  reading-room,  together 
with  a  number  of  stores  and  mechanic  shops,  and 
at  the  present  time  between  two  and  three  thou- 
sand mliabitants.  It  possesses  no  peculiar  ad- 
vantages  cither  for  manufacturing  or  mercantile 
pursuits;  it  is  therefore' indebted  alone  to  its 
character  as  a  loatcring  j'^acfy  for  the  advances 
which  it  has  heretofore  made  in  improvement 
and  population. 

The  village  is  situated  at  the  termination  oi 
one  of  the  s])ur3  of  the  immense  pile  of  primitive 
mountains  which  separate  the  waters  of  Lake 
Champlain  from  those  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  It 
is  twelve  miles  west  from  Schuylervillc  on  the 
Hudson,  and  thirty  cast  from  Johnstown  in  the 
county  of  Montgomery  ;  it  is  thirty-four  miles 
jiortherly  from  Albany,  and  twenty-seven  south- 
erly from  Lake  George.  Its  principal  street  is 
(jiie  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  width  and  nearly 
one  mile  in  extent.  The  houses  are  well  built, 
and  the  whole  village  has  an  air  of  neatness  and 
^^alubi'ity  s(;[:l(jni  equalled  in  any  country  village. 
I'ornK.rly  the  inhabitants  were  subject  to  attacks 
ol  iiiienniltcnt  and  remittent  fevers,  but  for  the 
la-t  ten  y<;urs  these  diseases  have  entirely  (lisa[)- 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

peared.  This  remarkable  exemption  is  imputed 
to  the  destruction  of  a  number  of  mill-dams  in 
the  surrounding  country,  and  the  clearing  and 
draining  of  the  low  marshy  grounds  m  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  place,  which  must,  during 
their  existence,  have  afforded  fruitful  sources  for 
those  exhalations,  to  which  has  always  been  im- 
puted the  origin  of  these  afflicting  diseases.  Nor 
is  the  surroanding  country  less  exempt  from 
those  pestiferous  exhalations  which  render  a 
place  insalubrious  and  improper  for  even  the 
temporary  residence  of  invalids.  The  springs 
are  situated  in  an  elevated  district,  and  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  an  extensive  range  of  moun- 
tainous country ;  the  atmosphere,  therefore,  is 
remarkably  pure  and  invigorating,  affording  to 
the  diseased  one  of  the  best  selected  spots  that 
could  be  chosen  for  the  improvement  of  a  broken 
or  impaired  constitution, 

But  Saratoga  is  not  only  interesting  on  account 
of  the  salubrity  of  its  waters  and  the  purity  of  its 
air  ;  the  name  is  associated  with  the  great  events 
which  gave  birth  to  the  empire ;  her  plains  are 
distinguished  in  the  history  of  freedom.  It  was 
here  our  fathers  fought  and  bled !  and  here  the 
sight  of  their  graves  daily  reminds  us  of  their  val- 
our and  their  patriotism.  It  was  here,  during  the 
dark  and  gloomy  period  of  the  revolution,  that 


HISTORY  or  THE  SPRINGS.  45 

ihe  liglit  of  liberty  first  dawned  upon  our  then 
benighted  land,  and  cheered  the  hearts  of  our 
desponding  countrymen  with  a  full  prospect 
of  a  great  and  glorious  day  ;  and  although  the 
bones  of  those  who  fell  upon  her  plains  arc 
now  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  earth 
which  covers  them,  yet  the  spot  of  their  repose 
will  be  sought  after  and  remembered  while  pat- 
riotism shall  have  a  votary,  or  liberty  a  name. 
The  scene  of  the  defeat  and  surrender  of  Gcne- 
jal  Burgojne  is  but  two  hours  ride  from  the 
Springs,  and  is  full  of  interest. 

The  falls  of  the  Hudson  are  numerous,  and 
some  of  them  highly  interesting,  particularly  those 
of  Baker,  Glen  and  Iladley  ;  they  are  situated 
about  eighteen  miles  from  the  Springs,  and  are 
well  worlli  the  attention  of  the  tourist. 

.Saratoga  Lake  is  but  four  miles  distant  from  the 
Springs.  It  is-  a  beautiful  sheet  of  pure  water, 
nine  miles  in  extent  from  north  to  south,  and  irom 
one  to  three  in  width.  The  scenery  around  il  is 
tliversificd  and  highly  picturesque,  while  the  lake 
Itself  aljounds  with  a  variety  of  fish  and  its  bor- 
ders with  abundance  of  small  game,  afiording  io 
die  sj)ortsman  and  ei)icure  a  nev(;r  failing  source 
of  anmscmenl  and  gratification. 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

Lake  George,  twenty-seven  miles  distant,  pre- 
sents a  scenery  sublime,  beautiful  and  romantic 
beyond  description.  Here  the  invalid  may  not 
only  be  exhilarated  by  the  delightful  prospects 
which  surround  him,  but  will  find  himself  invigo- 
rated by  inhaling  the  pure  air  of  the  mountains, 
and  bathing  in  the  limpid  and  uncontaminated 
waters  of  the  Sacred  Lake,* 

The  artist  may  here  occupy  his  pencil  in  delin- 
eating some  of  the  grandest  views  which  the  Uni- 
ted States  any  where  present,  and  which  fancy  in 
her  wildest  and  most  extravagant  exertions  can 
never  imitate  or  improve.  Indeed,  no  being,  en- 
dowed with  reason  and  common  sense,  can  ever 
visit  this  spot  without  receiving  impressions  calcu- 
lated to  elevate  his  views  of  the  divinity  of  nature, 
and  the  dignity  and  grandeur  of  her  works. 

The  roads  leading  to  all  these  places  are  tole- 
rably good,  particularly  where  they  pass  over  the 
plain  country ;  as  tiicy  are  there  not  only  level 
and  dry,  but  frequently  hard  and  smooth  in  con- 
sequence of  the  admixture  of  loam  with  sand. 
The  invalid  may,  therefore,  select  such  route  from 
the   Springs   as  may  best    suit  the  state   of  his 


*  The  French,  who   first  discovered  the  lake,  £:ave  it  the 
name  of  "  Lake  Sacrament,''''  from  tlic  puritv  of  its  waters. 


mSTORY  OF  THE  SPKINGS.  47 

health.  If  feeble  or  afflicted  with  painful  disease, 
he  may  ride  on  the  plains  without  fatigue  ;  or  if 
more  vigorous  and  courting  exercise,  he  may 
mount  the  hills  in  Greenfield  to  the  north,  where, 
in  a  tour  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  he  may  enjoy  a 
mountain  scenery. 

The  approach  to  the  Springs  from  the  south  is 
now  effected  by  rail  road — the  time  actually  em- 
plo}cd  in  travelling  between  them  and  New- York 
not  generally  exceeding  from  15  to  18  hours.  A 
rail  road  has  also  been  commenced  between  Sara- 
toga Springs  and  Whitehall,  on  Lake  Champlain, 
and  when  completed,  will  perfect  the  great  chain 
of  internal  communication  by  steam  from  Quebec 
to  North  Carolina. 

Saratoga,  as  a  j)OLrit  of  attraction,  Avill  prove  a 
resting  place  for  travellers  designing  a  northern 
or  southern  excursion,  and,  like  the  watering 
])lacc3  in  Europe,  will  also  be  doubtless  selected 
as  a  locality  for  the  country  seats  of  many  of  the 
opulent.  Indeed,  it  is  already  bcgiiming  to  as- 
sume that  character,  and  to  give  evidence  that  the 
period  is  not  distant  when  it  will  become  as  popu- 
lous and  in  all  respects  equal  the  most  renowned 
and  fashionable  towns  of  the  kind  on  the  eastern 
fjontinent. 


GEOLOGICAL  RE3L1RKS 

ON  THB 

COUNTY    OF    SARATOGA. 


The  arrangement  of  the  different  geological 
formations  in  tiiis  county  is  peculiarly  interesting, 
and  affords  one  of  the  happiest  opportunities  for 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  general  outlines  of 
the  science  of  geology.  The  primitive  transition 
and  secondary  formations  present  themselves  al- 
most at  one  vievr,  and  afford  to  the  enquirer  an 
opportunity  for  studying  the  physical  characters, 
positions  and  arrangements  with  a  facility  that 
can  scarcely  be  surpassed  at  any  other  spot.  But 
before  I  proceed  to  a  description  of  its  geological 
structure,  it  will  be  necessary  to  say  a  few  words 
on  the  geography  of  the  county. 

The  county  of  Saratoga  was  set  off  from  the 
county  of  Albany  in  the  year  1791.  It  is  situated 
between  42  deg.  40  min.  and  43  deg.  23  min. 
north  latitude,  and  26  min,  cast  and  10  rain,  west 
longitude  from  the  city  of  A^ew-York,  and  is  di- 
vided into  twenty  townships,  the  greater  part  of 
which  are  highly  cultivated,  and  all  of  ihcm  in  a 


50  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

State  of  rapid  improvement.  The  soil  is  generally 
good  and  well  adapted  to  either  pasturage  or 
culture. 

Formerly  the  great  quantity  of  fine  timber, 
which  the  land  every  where  produced,  its  prox- 
imity to  market,  and  the  facilities  afforded  for 
erecting  mills  on  never  failing  streams  of  water, 
induced  the  earlier  settlers  to  turn  their  attention 
to  the  business  of  lumbering,  to  the  almost  entire 
neglect  of  the  land.  But  the  disappearance  of 
the  timber  has  now  nearly  put  a  stop  to  this  kind 
of  traffic,  and  the  farmer  is  beginning  to  consult 
his  better  interest  in  the  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment of  his  farm ;  and  in  a  few  more  years  this 
county  will  rank  among  the  first  in  the  state  both 
for  the  quantity  and  quality  of  its  productions. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  undulating,  and  the 
soil  considerably  diversified  in  its  character. 
Along  the  Hudson  there  are  some  tracts  of  allu- 
vial bottoms  extremely  fertile  ;  but  it  is  remarkable 
that  this  river  does  not  produce  such  extensive 
tracts  of  alluvial  lands  as  are  usually  found  along 
streams  of  its  magnitude.  Back  from  the  river 
there  arc  extensive  tracts  of  smidy  soil  intermixed 
with  a  light  loam.  The  soil  of  the  mountainous 
districts  is  of  a  gravelly  consistence,  intermixed 
with  much  vegetable  substance,  while  that  which 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS.  61 

occupies  the  space  between  the  mountains  and 
the  sandy  plains  is  generally  of  a  rich  vegetable 
mould. 

The  northern  part  of  the  county  is  mountainous. 
It  consists  of  two  elevated  ridges,  the  first  of 
which  is  styled  the  Palmertown  mountains.  It  is 
a  continuation  or  spur  of  the  immense  pile  of  prim- 
itive mountains  which  occupy  the  space  between 
the  waters  of  I^ake  Champlain  and  those  of  the 
St.  Lawrence.  They  enter  the  county  a  few 
miles  west  of  Glen's  Falls,  on  the  Hudson,  in  the 
town  of  INIoreau,  from  whence  this  ridge,  pursu- 
ing a  southwesterly  course,  gradually  sinks  to  the 
level  of  the  plain  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  the  min- 
eral waters  at  Saratoga  Springs.  It  presents  an 
abrupt  front,  in  many  places  precipitous,  and  rises 
in  some  parts  to  the  height  of  several  hundred 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  plains  which  lie  to  the 
east  and  south  of  it.  From  the  top  of  this  range 
the  land  gradually  declines  to  the  west  for  the 
distance  of  six  or  seven  miles,  when  it  is  again 
abniptly  thrown  into  another  ridge  called  the 
Kayaderosscras  mountains.  This,  like  tlic  Pal- 
mertown ridge,  is  a  spur  from  the  same  group  of 
primitive  mountains  to  the  north.  It  sinks  to  the 
general  livel  of  the  country.  In  the  town  of  Gal- 
way  it  presents  an  appearance  very  similar  to 
that  of  the  Palmertown  mountains,  and  like  that 


52  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

declines  gi'adually  to  the  west  until  it  comes  in 
contact  with  another  spur  from  the  same  source, 
called  the  Sacanadaca  or  Sacandao;a  mountains, 
which  terminate  at  or  near  the  Little  Falls  on  the 
Mohawk ;  this  range  is  in  the  county  of  Mont- 
gomery. 

The  waters  of  the  Sacandaga  river,  one  of  tlie 
principal  branches  of  the  Hudson,  have  their 
source  in  this  latter  range  of  mountains,  and  col- 
lecting their  scattered  branches,  they  pursue  an 
easterly  course,  and  passing  through  tlie  Kayade- 
rosseras  mountains  unite  with  the  Hudson.  These 
waters  now  pursue  a  southerly  course  for  a  few 
miles  only,  when  they  again  strike  off  to  the  east, 
and  continuing  the  course,  pass  through  the  Palm- 
ertown  mountains,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Glen's 
Falls  again  take  a  southerly  direction,  and  pur- 
sue it  with  but  little  variation  to  the  city  of  New- 
York. 

In  tlie  passage  of  thes'c  waters  through  tlic 
mountains,  they  form  numerous  rapids,  cascades 
and  cataracts,  which  present  some  of  the  most 
wikl,  romantic  and  picturesque  scenery  of  which 
the  country  can  boast. 

These  mountains  comprise  the  primitive  region 
ill  this  countv.     The  rock  formations  which  con> 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS.  63 

pose  the  regular  constituent  parts  of  these  el^a- 
ted  ridges  consist  of  the  following ; 

Granite. 

Sienite. 

Gneiss. 

Mica  Slate. 

Steatite. 

Granular  Lime  Stone. 

Granite 

Discovers  itself  in  a  number  of  places  along 
the  whole  extent  of  the  Palriiertown  range.  It 
rises  to  the  top  of  some  of  the  highest  peaks  of 
the  mountain  near  where  the  Hudson  crosses  it, 
and  is  again  met  with  in  some  of  the  vallies.  At 
the  southern  termination  of  this  mountainous 
range,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  transition 
formation,  and  within  a  mile  of  the  mineral  waters 
at  Saratoga  Springs,  there  is  an  extensive  mass  of 
granite  considerably  elevated  and  lying  across 
the  course  of  the  mountain  nearly  east  and  west. 
The  surface  of  this  range  of  granite  is  exposed  for 
the  distance  of  more  than  a  mile,  and  it  is  the  last 
of  the  primitive  rocks  which  make  tlicir  appear- 
ance in  this  direction  until .  we  reach  the  High- 
lands below  Newburgh,  a  distance  of  more  than 
one  hundred  miles,  where  they  again  occur,  and 
the  appearance  seems  to  justify  the  opinion  that 

E* 


54  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

4hey  constitute  a  part  of  the  same  range.  Sucb 
is  the  situation  of  the  valley  or  basm  between 
these  two  distant  points,  that  the  Highlands  may 
be  distinctly  seen  over  it,  on  a  clear  day,  from 
almost  any  point  on  the  last  mentioned  range  of 
granite  at  Saratoga  Springs., 

On  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  where  the 
land  slopes  off  towards  the  Kayaderosseras,  gi'ani-. 
ite  frequently  presents  itself  in  extensive  ridges, 
sometimes  exhibiting  its  own  well  defined  surface, 
and  sometimes  supporting  masses  of  sienite  or 
gneiss,  which  run  into  each  other;  and  in  tliis 
manner  it  hkewise  combines  with  mica  slate,  and 
although  each  rock  is  distinctly  marked,  yet  they 
are  so  intimately  combined  at  their  union  as  to 
render  it  difficult  to  determine  the  exact  line  of 
theii'  meeting. 

On  tlie  Kayaderosseras  mountains  the  granite 
discovers  itself  towards  their  southern  termination 
and  along  their  highest  ridges.  It  is  very  con- 
spicuous along  the  slope  of  the  mountains  on  their 
western  sides  in  the  town  of  Providence.  It  like- 
wise breaks  through  the  gneiss,  or  rises  above  it 
in  several  places  in  the  precipitous  parts  of  the 
raountains  on  their  eastern  aspect  in  the  towns  of 
Greenfield,  Corinth  and  Iladley. 


GEOLOGICA.L  REMARKS.  55. 

In  the  town  of  Day,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Sacandaga  river,  and  not  far  from  the  road  lead- 
ing through  the  mountain  along  the  valley  of  the 
river  from  Hadley  to  Edinburgh,  there  is  an  ex- 
tensive range  of  beautiful  flesh  coloured  granite. 
It  rises  through  the  gneiss  which  lies  on  both  sides 
of  it,  and  occupying  a  direction  nearly  southwest 
and  northeast,  may  be  traced  a  distance  of  some 
miles.  It  consists  almost  entirely  of  feldspar  in  a 
highly  cr\'stalline  state,  and  contains  some  nodules 
of  quartz  and  rarely  some  small  specimens  of 
mica. 

Most  of  the  granite  which  occurs  in  this  region 
is  of  a  Coarse  granular  structure,  having  its  usual 
constituents  variously  combined.  Sometimes  it 
consists  almost  entirely  of  feldspar  and  quartz. 
In  some  specimens  the  mica  is  in  excess,  and  in 
others  the  mica  and  quartz  are  scarcely  discover- 
able, and  frequently  all  three  are  so  intimately 
combined  as  to  make  it  difficult  to  determine 
wliich  is  in  excess. 

Sometimes  the  granite  occurs  in  veins  passing 
tlirough  gneiss,  in  which  case  it  is  highly  crystal- 
line, and  its  constituent  parts  may  be  easily  sepa- 
rated, often  with  a  single  blow  of  the  hammer. 


56  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

Gneiss. 

This  constitutes  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of 
the  primitive  rocks  in  this  region.  It  composes 
almost  the  whole  of  the  eastern  face  of  the  Palm- 
ertown  mountains,  except  being  occasionally  in- 
terrupted by  the  granite.  It  extends  to  the  west 
along  the  slope  of  those  mountains  to  within  a 
mile  of  the  Kayaderosseras  ;  and  these  last  moun- 
tains are  almost  entirely  composed  of  it.  Where 
the  Sacandaga  river  crosses  this  range,  the  moun- 
tains, which  are  several  hundred  feet  in  height, 
particularly  on  the  north  side,  approach  it  in 
frightful  precipices,  which  are  entirely  composed 
of  this  rock. 

it  is  usually  found  resting  on  granite ;  but  in 
some  places  it  is  observed  to  alternate  with  sien- 
ite,  but  more  frequently  with  mica  slate.  It  dif- 
fers much  in  its  composition ;  being  in  some 
instaiices  composed  almost  entirely  of  mica  and 
quartz,  and  in  others  of  mica,  quartz,  feldspar 
and  hornblend.  Sometimes  the  feldspar  is  want- 
ing altogether,  and  sometimes  the  mica  is  deficient. 
They  are  all  in  fine  particles  and  much  diffused 
m  the  mass. 

Sienite,  or  Hornblend  Rock, 
Occurs  in  several  places  along  the  western 
dcchvity  of  the  Palmertown  mountains,  and  along 


GEOLOGICAL    REMARKS.  57 

the  southciTi  termination  of  the  Kayaderosscras 
mountains  in  the  town  of  Providence.  It  is  ob- 
sciTed  in  other  places  combined  with  gneiss  or 
aheniating  with  mica  slate.  It  docs  not,  how- 
ever, appear  to  occirpy  a  very  extensive  space  in 
the  formation  of  this  region. 

Mica  Slate. 

This  rock  occurs  near  and  along  the  southern 
termination  of  the  primitive  region  in  the  town  of 
Greenfield.  A  little  below  Fitch's  mills  it  forms 
a  distinct  stratification,  and  along  the  mountains 
to  the  north  and  northeast  it  rests  on  the  gneiss, 
and  is  observed  to  form  veins  or  seams  in  several 
places  in  the  granite.  It  exhibits  fragments  of 
an  extensive  stratification  both  on  the  Palmer- 
town  and  Kayaderosscras  mountains. 

Steatite,  Soap-Stone,  or  Talcose  Rock, 

Occurs  at  or  near  the  foot  of  the  Palmertown 
mountains  in  the  town  of  Moreau  ;  it  occurs 
likewise  near  the  top  of  the  mountain  in  the  town 
of  Corinth,  and  again  in  the  town  of  Greenfield. 
They  all  appear  to  be  of  the  same  dcscri])tion 
and  evidently  belong  to  the  variety  termed  pot- 
Ptone.  The  locality  in  Moreau  appears  to  be 
extensive.  It  is  covered  by  granular  limestone, 
through  a  fissure  of  which,  the  specimens  which 


58  GEOLOGICAL    REMARKS. 

I  have  were  procured.  I  have  several  other 
specimens  which  I  strongly  suspect  came  from 
one  of  the  above  localities,  although  they  were 
represented  to  me  as  coming  from  another  quar- 
ter. They  were  procured  by  some  infatuated 
money  diggers,  and  they  were  exhibited  under  a 
pretence  or  belief  that  they  contained  the  pre- 
cious metals. 

Granular  Limestone. 

This  occurs  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
foregoing  formation,  and  appears  to  rest  upon  it. 
It  enters  largely  into  the  formation  of  the  Palmer- 
town  mountain  at  a  place  about  two  miles  north 
from  its  southern  termination.  All  which  I  have-* 
examined  is  of  a  coarse  granular  structure,  and 
in  its  general  character  and  appearance  strongly 
resembles  the  Bennington  and  Shaftsbury  mar- 
bles. It  is  easily  worked,  and  when  pure  receives 
a  fine  polish.  Most  of  the  specimens,  however, 
contain  crystals  of  feldspar  diffused  throughout 
the  mass  in  such  abundance  as  to  render  it  in  a 
great  measure  unfit  for  the  operations  of  the 
chisel.  It  is  probable,  nevertheless,  that  when 
those  localities  come  to  be  properly  explored, 
specimens  sufficiently  pure  may  be  procured  for 
all  the  useful  purposes  to  which  marble  is 
applied. 


GEOLOGICAL   REMARKS.  59 

Every  thing  conspires  to  induce  the  beUef  that 
these  primitive  regions  have  undergone  great  and 
important  changes  since  the  period  of  their 
formation.  Fragments  -of  these  rocks,  exactly 
corresponding  with  those  in  place,  are  strewed  in 
immense  quantities  all  over  the  county  in  the  form 
of  sand,  water- worn  pebbles,  rounded  stones  and 
bowlders,  specimens  of  which,  weighing  many 
tons,  arc  found  at  the  distance  of  some  miles 
from  their  parent  rock  resting  on  earth  which 
covers  secondary  limestone. 

The  minerals  which  have  been  observed  con- 
nected with  the  primitive  formation  of  this  region, 
are  tourmaline,  garnets,  beryl,  sulphuret  of  mo- 
lyi^dena,  graphite,  spodumene,  iron  in  the  form  of 
magnetic  hematite  and  sulphuret,  chrysobcryl,* 
prismatic  and  laminated  mica,  coccolitc,  &,c. 

Transition  Formation. 

The  rocks  which  are  distinctly  marked  as  be- 
longing to  this  class  in  this  region  are — 

Pudding  Stone,  or  Conglomerate, 
(iiiarlzosc,  or  Coarse  Siliceous  Sand  Stone. 


•  Tlii-!  rnro  mineral  occurs  in  veins  of  granite  running  through 
gu'Mf's  m  two  or  tlirco  placo,  from  wliich  some  beautiful  speci- 
mens liavu  been  obtuincd. 


60  GEOLOGICAL   REMARKS. 

Metalliferous,  or  Mountain  Lime  Stone. 
Argillagceous  Slate. 
Gray  Wacke  and  Gray  Wacke  Slate. 
Siliceous  and  Calcareous  Sand  Stone. 

Pudding  Stone.* 

This  formation  occurs  in  the  town  of  Green- 
field, not  far  from  its  south  line,  on  the  southeast 
side  of  the  Kayaderosseras  mountain,  distinctly 
resting  on  the  primitivo  rocks.  It  consists  prin- 
cipally of  rounded  pebbles  of  quartz,  from  the 
size  of  a  small  shot  to  that  of  a  man's  head,  and 
larger,  united  into  one  common  mas§  by  a  kind 
of  coarse  ferruginous  sand.  The  rounded  masses 
which  characterize  this  formation  are  much  the 
largest  at  its  conimencement,  or  where  it  unites 
with  the  primitive  rocks,  and  they  regularly  de- 
crease in  size  as  we  climb  up  the  series,  until  it 
passes  into  a  uniform  quartzose,  or  coarse  silice- 
ous sand  stone,  which  overlays  or  alternates  with 
it  over  a  considerable  extent  of  this  part  of  the 
county.  Broken  rounded  fragments  of  this  for* 
mation  are  found  all  over  the  county,  and  in 


*This  formation,  with  the  succeeding  one,  answers  well  tt» 
the  description  given  by  Eaton,  of  the  niillstonc-grit  of  the  canal 
district;  but  its  situation  here  peremptorily  forbids  lis  being 
placed  among  tlie  secondary  rocks. 


GEOLOGICAL    BEMARES.  *  CI 

great 'abundance  along  the  valley  between  the 
Palmertown  and  Kayaderosseras  mountains. 

Quartiosc  or  Coarse  Siliceous  Sand  Stone. 

Tliis  formation  occupies  an  extensive  space 
along  the  valley  betvreen  the  Palmertown  and 
Kayaderosseras  mountains,  and  is  found  along 
the  eastern  declivity  of  the  latter  mountain,  near 
its  southern  termination,  in  thin  and  horizontal 
strata,  in  some  places  alternating  with  conglome- 
j-ute  or  passing  into  it.  Near  the  foot  of  the 
iuountain  it  inclines  a  little  to  the  southeast,  and 
disappears  beneath  more  recent  formations. 

This  formation  is  generally  of  a  reddish  brown 
color,  particularly  where  the  surface  has  been 
exposed  to  the  weather.  It  is,  however,  fre- 
quently white  or  greyish  white  ;  and  at  or  near 
the  falls  on  tlie  Hudson  at  Iladlcy,  it  passes  into 
and  alternates  with  a  kind  of  rubblestone  of  a 
I:)lueish  cast,  which  slightly  cfTervesces  with  acids 
and  sometimes  contains  calcareous  spar.* 


*  Pr'iK.-sor  F.atoii  has  described  this  fonnation  as  bcin;', 
jiriui.tiv,  ri'id  iiufjUoriS  tlic  occurrcncu  uf  an  intervening  stra- 
'.■na  of  iinddinq  ifone  as  a  rt-fnarliahle  circumstance.  I  once 
•  Tjt'.rtairii-d  I'n;  -  iine  (i|.i':!'jn,  hut  a  nHjrc  careful  investigation 
la.-  put  lu  li'-_vi':i.i  ;i  ii-i,',i  tliat  tlii^  is  a  Iransiilmi  lurinalioii, 
•) -I  u()yi'iL'  'li'j  ^'U'^ui  o\  A  '"d^.a\  formed  by  the  sarroundm;; 
j':;':i;i.!  .e  iii''i:i:  .u  :  ■. 

7 


62  •  GEOLOGICAL   REMARKS. 

Metalliferous,  or  Mountain  Lime  Roc'k. 

This  formation  occurs  in  the  town  of  Green- 
field, on  an  elevated  ridge  of  land  in  the  valley 
between  the  Palmertown  and  Kayaderosseras 
mountains,  and  evidently  reposes  on  the  foregoing 
sand  stone.  This  locality  is  not  very  extensive, 
and  I  am  not  aware  of  its  occurring  at  any  other 
place,  although  it  ver)^  probably  may,  along  the 
course  of  the  same  valley  which  occupies  the 
space  between  those  primitive  spurs  for  nearly 
twenty  miles. 

Argillaceous  Slate, 

This  formation  appears  to  underlay  the  greater 
part  of  the  county  that  is  not  included  in  the 
primitive  region.  It  forms  the  bed  of  the  Hudson 
to  a  little  above  Baker's  Falls,  opposite  Moreau, 
and  ihat  ■;  f  the  JNIohawk  to  above  Schenectady. 
It  is  likewise  observable  in  tlie  interior  of  the 
couMty,  at  tiie  bottom  and  along  the  shores  of  the 
lakes,  both  at  Saratoga  and  liallston ;  and  it 
forms  the  shores  or  banks  of  most  of  the  streams 
that  ])ass  to  the  southward  of  t!ie  secondary  for- 
mation, but  it  has  not  yet  been  observed  to  make 
its  appearance  between  this  last  and  the  primitive 
rocks. 


GEOLOGICAL    REMARKS.*  63 

The  layers  of  this  rock  are  much  curved,  par- 
ticularly along  the  southern  parts  of  the  county, 
and  possess  a  considerable  elevation  to  the  norih- 
Avest ;  but  as  it  approaches  towards  the  seconda- 
ry rock,  to  the  north,  its  layers  become  straight, 
are  evidently  less  inclined,  and  separate  into  thin 
plates,  some  of  which  appear  suitable  for  roof 
slate.  The  seams  and  fissures  of  these  layers 
arc  frequently  filled  with  calcareous'  spar  ;  and 
at  Bakers  Falls  large  masses  of  this  substance 
arc  imbedded  in  the  rock.  It  is  extremely  liable 
to  disintegration  where  the  surface  is  exposed ; 
and  in  many  places  it  breaks  into  regular  rhom- 
bick  tables,  whose  fracture  is  always  parallel  to 
their  sides,  evincing  a  crystalline  character. 

Some  specimens  of  this  rock  are  glazed  with 
black  lead,  which  when  handled  soils  the  fingers; 
and  from  this  circumstance,  some  inexperienced 
geologists  have  mistaken  it  for  bituminous  shale, 
a  substance  which  probably  will  not  be  found  in 
this  district. 

Large  masses  of  chlorite,  milky  quartz,  and 
sometimes  red  jasper,  are  likewise  found,  citiier 
imbedded  in  tills  formation  or  passing  through  it 
in  liie  form  of  veins  ;  and  the  sulphuret  of  iron, 
in  beautiful  golden  colored  crystals  of  various 
forms,  occurs  in  great  abundance,  either  in  seams 


t>i  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

or  imbedded  in  its  substance.  The  decomposi- 
tion of  this  latter  substance  probably  gives  origin 
to  tlie  suljihurous  icatcrs  which  are  found  in  tliis 
region,  and  likewise  to  the  efflorescence  so  often 
met  with  on  the  sides  and  walls  of  this  rock. 
This  efflorescence  is  either  the  sulphate  of  irorij 
lime  or  alumine,  and  sometimes  consists  of  al- 
three. 

Siliceous  slate  appears  to  be  im]:)edded  in  tlic- 
argillite,  rather  than  forming  a  separate  stratum. 
It  is  of  a  black  flint  like  appearance,  possessing  a 
concoidal  fracture,  and  has  a  dark  shining  as- 
pect. It  occurs  in  large  irregular  masses  in  the 
argillaceous  slate  on  the  egst  side  of  Saratoga 
lake,  and  likewise  along  tlie  southern  parts  of  the 
liounty 

Gray-Waclic. 
Wherever  this  rock  is  found  in  this  region,  ir 
rests  on  the  argillaceous  slate,  and  in  someplace-.-^ 
is  obsen'ed  to  alternate  with  it.  It  forms  the  sum- 
mit of  most  of  the  insolatcd  elevations  through- 
out the  southern  pai'ts  of  the  country.  It  occu- 
pies a  considerable  space  along  the  highlands 
which  i-un  parallel  to  the  Hudson  through  tlie 
t^wns  of  Saj'atoga  and  Stillwater,  and  enters 
largely  into  the  composition  of  Bemus'  Heights^ 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS.  65 

It  is  observable  again  along  the  souUicrn  pari?  of 
Ballson  and  Charlton,  where  it  runs  into,  and  al- 
ternates with  gray-wacke  slate.  This  last  dillorj 
but  little  from  the  former,  excepting  it  is  more 
slaty  in  its  structure.  Along  the  cast  side  of  Sar- 
atoga Lake,  and  at  several  other  places,  they 
have  a  considerable  declination  to  the  southeast ; 
but  in  Charlton  tlieir  position  is  nearly  horizontal. 
In  some  places  the  strata  of  this  formation  c.vc 
curiously  oontorted  and  bent,  furnishing  iritcrest- 
ing  views  for  the  speculations  of  the  scientific  ge- 
ologist. 

Siliceous  and  Calcareous  SamJ  Stone. 

These  rocks  occur  all  alonu  the  eastorn  aud 
sQuthern  termination  of  the  primitive  region,  vvka 
which  in  many  places  they  appear  to  come  near- 
ly in  contact.  They  appear  in  the  banks  oi"  the 
Hudson  a  little  below  Glen's  Yo\U,  and  they  aiC 
Mivy  conspicuous  along  the  south  part  of  tiie  to% .  a 
of  Greenfield  at  the  foot  of  the  Kayadcrossoras, 
when  they  pursue  the  course  of  that  prinilii>o 
tract  to  its  southern  termination  in  the  town  of 
Galvvay.  They  then  take  a  western  ccnirse  into 
the  county  of  Montgomery.  In  Greenndd  and 
Corinth  this  formation  occupies  a  narrow  si)ac.i 
along  the  eastern  foot  of  the  Kayaderosscias 
mountain  for  the  distance  of  several  miies ;  aud 
the  same  formation  occurs  again  on  its  opposiio 


66  GEOLOGICAL  REMAUKS. 

side,  along  the  foot  of  the  Sacandaga  mountairis, 
and  it  is  of  this  stone  that  tlie  piers  of  the  elegant 
state  bridge  over  the  Sacandaga  river  near  the 
Fish  House  are  constructed.  Indeed,  some  of 
the  rocks  at  this  place  approach  very  nearly  to 
compact  lime-stone,  and  contain  organic  remains. 

Horn  stone  is  found  in  great  abundance  im- 
bedded in  the  calcareous  sand  stone ;  and  calca- 
reous spar,  beautifully  crystalized  and  possessing 
a  vaiiety  of  colors,  occurs  in  both.  Some  of 
these  rocks  contain  in  their  fissures  and  cavities 
beautiful  and  very  perfect  six  sided  crystals  of 
quartz.  These  occur  in  great  abundance  among 
the  calcareous  sand  stones  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the 
mineral  springs  at  Saratoga,  and  arc  presented  to 
the  curious  under  the  appellation  of  diamonds. 
Some  small  specimens  of  these  crj'stals  have  been 
found  in  tlie  loose  earth  about  these  rocks,  having 
regular  sides,  with  both  terminations  entire,  and 
possessing  a  brilliancy  but  little  inferior  to  the 
diamond  itself 

The  siliceous  sand  stone  in  some  places  seems 
to  pass  into  a  kind  of  ajnygdaloidal  7'ock,  which 
effervesces  but  slightly  with  acids.  Its  cavities^ 
which  arc  numerous,  are  lined  with  chalcedony. 
This  frequently  occupies  the  whole  space,  but 
sometimes  forms  gcodcs,  the  msides  of  which  ajc 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS.  67 

Studded  with  small  brilliant  cr}'stals  of  quartz,  or 
a  variety  of  crystalized  spar.  The  walls  of  these 
gcodes  not  unfrcqucntly  pass  into  agate,  cxliibiting 
its  zigzag  pai'allel  lines  very  distinctly. 

Most  of  the  calcareous  and  siliceous  sand  stone 
of  tliis  region  are  easily  wrought,  and  they  bear 
the  effects  of  a  high  temperature  well ;  they  arc 
therefore  used  in  Galvvay  for  the  backs  and 
jambs  to  cliimncys.  They  have  been  likewise 
extensively  quarried  in  Greenfield  for  the  con- 
struction of  tlie  locks  on  the  northern  canal ;  and 
at  Saratoga  Springs  they  are  used  altogether  for 
the  foundations  of  buildings. 

Secondary  Formatiou. 

The  rocks  which  compose  the  regular  scries  of 
thi.3  fjrmation  arc — 

Compact  Lime-stbnc, 
Shell  Lime-stone,  and 
Oolite. 

This  lime-stone  formation  passes  into  the  coui:- 
ty  at  Glen's  Falls,  and  pursuing  a  southwesterly 
direction,  occuj)ics  a  narrow  space  along  the 
course  of  the  primitive  region,  and  not  far  from  it 
throuiih  the  towns  of  iMorcau,  Willon,  Sarat<'<:p, 


68  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

Springs,  Milton,  Galway,  and  so  into  the  county 
of  Montgomery. 

The  connection  of  this  formation  with  the  tran- 
sition rocks  is  very  obvious  at  a  Uttle  distance  be- 
low Glen's  Falls,  where  it  is  first  observed  to  al- 
ternate with  calcareous  and  siliceous  sand  stone, 
and  folloiving  the  stream  still  further  down,  these 
last  rocks  alternate  with  gray-wacke  and  gray- 
wacke  slate,  which  finally  rest  on  the  argillaceous 
slate,  not  far  above  Baker's  Falls,  in  the  town  of 
Moreau. 

Both  the  compact  and  shell  lime-stone  occur 
in  the  same  series  of  strata,  constituting  distinct 
layers,  which  overlay  each  other  at  irregular  in- 
tervals. They  are  of  a  dark  blue  color,  and  the 
compact  is  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish,  and  is 
used  for  ornamental  work  of  various  kinds. 
Both,  when  properly  burned,  form  a  very  pure 
lime,  giving  out  when  first  heated,  a  strong  sul- 
phurous odour. 

The  shell  lime-stone  differs  very  materially 
ti-om  the  compact,  being  more  loose  in  its  texture, 
and  consisting  nearly  altogether  of  organic  re- 
mains, the  forms  of  which  are  perfect  and  entire ; 
among  which  have  been  recognized  celleporites, 
pectenites,  orthoceralitcs,  amonites,  cardites,  gry- 


GEOLOGICAL  RE5L1IIKS.  Gf> 

phites,  coralliiiites,  terebratulites,  ostn'atitcs.  and 
belcmnites. 

Oolite. 

Tliis  formation  had  not  been  known  as  consti- 
tuting a  part  of  the  regular  scries  of  rocks  in  the 
United  States  until  it  was  discovered  in  this  coun- 
ty. It  occurs  at  a  place  about  two  mites  north 
west  from  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs,  ai;id 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  ridge  of  granite  rocks 
which  terminate  the  southernmost  point  bfthc 
Palmertown  mountains.  From  this  spot  it  stretch- 
es across  tlic  valley  which  separates  the  Palmer- 
town  from  the  Kayaderosseras  mountains,  and 
probably  may  yet  be  traced  around  the  termina- 
tion of  the  latter  mountains  to  those  of  the  Sacan- 
daga,  and  possibly  along  the  whole  extent  of 
these  primitive  spurs  of  what  professor  Eaton  has 
termed  "  the  M'Comb  Mountains." 

The  calcareous  concretions  which  characterize 
and  identify  this  formation,  are  fur  the  most  part 
arranged  in  successive  layers  throughout  the  stra- 
ta in  which  they  appear.  They  are  globular,  of 
the  size  of  mustard  seed,  possess  a  shining  black 
color,  and  are  cvidtnilly  composed  of  concentric 
layers.     They  are  united  in  the  mass  by  a  calci . 


70  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

reous  cement,  more  or  less  granular,  combined 
with  fine  siliceous  sand. 

More  than  one  half  of  the  whole  mass  of  some 
of  the  strata  which  constitute  the  scrieSiof  this 
formation,  consist  of  these  globular  concretions  ; 
in  others  they  are  more  sparingly  diflused,  and 
some  of  the  strata  appear  to  be  composed  alto- 
gether of  a  calcareo-siliceous  sand,  without  the 
intervention  of  a  single  globule.  They  are  most- 
ly of  a  dark  gray  color,  but  they  are  in  many 
places  rendered  brown  by  the  intervention  of  fer- 
ruginous particles. 

From  a  cursory  examination,  at  the  time  this 
formation  was  first  observed,  I  was  induced  to 
believe  that  it  rested  on  the  transition  rocks  ;  but 
a  more  careful  investigation  has  satisfied  me  that 
it  rests  on  secondary  or  shell  lime-stone.  This 
lime-stone  differs  somewhat  from  that  which  I 
have  before  described  ;  it  is  of  a  lighter  color, 
less  compact  in  its  structure,  the  organic  remains 
are  more  equally  diffused  throughout  the  strata, 
which  are  thinner,  and  are  frequently  separated 
by  thin  layers  of  aluminous  slate,  which,  in  some 
places,  is  nearly  identified  with  the  lime-stone. 
Can  this  be  the  lias  of  the  European  geologists  ? 
and  is  this  shale  tiie  lias  day  which  in  England  is 
known  to  be  impregnated  with  muriate  of  soda 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS.  71 

and  other  salts  ?  and  the  same  in  which  the  min- 
eral springs  at  Cheltenham  and  Gloucester  are 
said  to  rise  ?  If  it  should  be  so,  we  shall  find 
but  little  difficulty  in  accounting  for  the  origin  of 
some  qf  the  salina  ingredients  found  in  the  mineral 
waters  at  Saratoga  ;  but  it  must  be  left  to  further 
investigation  to  determine  this  subject. 

Diluvial  and  Alluvial  Foruiatious. 

Diluvial  and  alluvial  deposits  cover  a  great 
proportion  of  the  secondary  and  transition  rocks 
throughout  the  county,  in  the  form  of  thick  beds 
of  sand  and  clay  and  fragments  of  rocks  more  or 
less  rounded  by  attrition. 

The  diluvial  inrludes  generally  all  those  lands 
that  are  usually  termed  pine  j-lains,  extending  from 
the  northern  to  the  southern  limits  of  the  county, 
forming  a  part  of  a  range  which  fallows  the  course 
of  the  Hudson  for  more  tlian  four  hundred  miles 
between  the  primitive  mountains. 

But  little  is  as  yet  known  of  the  depth  or  interior 
j)r.')perties  of  this  immense  body  of  earth.  It  has 
seldom  l.'cen  ojicned  to  any  extent  but  for  the 
purposes  of  ol)laining  water,  which  is  usually  found 
at  a  depth  of  from  ten  to  twenty-five  feet,  in  a 
coarse  loose  sand  resting  on  aluminous  marl,  or 
between  this  first  stratum  and  anotlu^r  at  no  great 
distance  beneath.     AV^hcn  water  is  found  to  occur 


72  GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS. 

over  the  marl,  it  is  usually  very  pure,  combines 
readily  with  soap,  and  is  what,  in  common  lan- 
guage, is  termed  soft ;  but  when  it  occurs  be- 
tween the  strata  of  marl,  it  possesses  properties 
which  give  it  the  appellation  of  hard ;  it  decom- 
poses soap  without  forming  a  pure  suds,  and  con- 
tains lime,  magnesia,  &c.  usually  combined  with 
sulphm-ic  or  muriatic  acid. 

Wherever  this  formation  has  been  exposed  to 
any  considerable  depth,  it  presents  a  stratified 
structure  consisting  of  regular  and  well  defined 
strata  of  different  colored  sand  or  earth,  or  coarse 
and  fine  gravel  regularly  arranged.  Sometimes 
these  strata  are  separated  by  thin  layers  of  marl 
or  clay,  and  sometimes  by  the  argillaceous  oxide 
of  iron.  They  are  horizontal,  inclined  or  undu- 
lating at  diiferent  places. 

Marl  appears  to  underla}-'  or  form  a  constituent 
part  of  almost  the  whole  of  the  diluvial  deposits 
of  this  county  ;  it  is  mostly  argillaceous,  but  some 
specimens  contain  from  forty  to  sixty  per  cent,  of 
lime,  and  are  evidently  calcareous. 

Argillaceous  oxide  of  iron  (bog  ore)  occurs  in 
a  number  of  places,  imbedded  in  the  sandy  dilu- 
vial. On  the  plains  between  Saratoga  and  Ball- 
.ston  Spa,  it  was  formerly  found  in  ^uincicnt  quan- 


GEOLOGICAL  REMARKS  73 

tities  to  supply  a  forge  for  a  number  of  years, 
which  produced  from  fifty  to  seventy  tons  of 
wrought  or  bar  iron  annually. 

The  alluvial  formation  is  found  along  the  banks 
of  streams  and  at  the  bottoms  of  vallies  ;  it  con- 
sists of  beds  of  clay  or  marl,  interrupted  at  inter- 
vals by  layers  of  quicksand,  and  sometimes  by 
that  of  vegetable  remains. 

Every  thing  in  this  extensive  region  of  diluvial 
lUid  alluvial  deposits  conspire  to  induce  the  belief 
that  it  once  formed  the  bottom  of  an  immense 
fresh  water  lake,  which  must  have  existed  subse- 
quent to  the  retiring  of  the  oceanic  waters,  in 
which  were  deposited  the  lime  and  other  secon- 
dary rocks  which  contain  the  remains  of  marine 
animals  in  such  abundance  :  but  as  the  discussion 
of  this  subject  is  not  necessarily  connected  with 
the  object  of  the  woj-k  before  us,  it  is  deemed  in- 
expedient to  pursue  it  any  further  at  this  time, 

llavinf;  thus  given  a  concise  account  of  the  (lis- 
covcry  and  setlljrucnt  of  the  Springs,  and  a  gene- 
ral view  of  the  geological  features  of  the  coimli)- 
in  wliich  they  are  .situated,  (preliriiinanes  iniorosf- 
:ng  and  ini[)ortant.)  I  shall  nf)W  [)roceed  to  an 
(  xarnination  ijilo  ih*;  cliaracler  and  properlic-  I'f 
i!ie  watc TK. 


EXAMINATION 

OF    THE 

HI  I  i\r:  R  A  L     WATERS. 


Sicii  is  the  solvent  power  of  water,  that  it  is 
seldom,  if  ever,  found  perfectly  pure  or  free  from 
foreign  ingredients.  Rain  and  snow  water,  when 
collected  in  the  open  country,  remote  from  towns 
or  villages,  and  immediately  after  their  descent, 
are  the  most  pure  of  any  used  for  domestic  pur- 
poses ;  but  even  these  arc  not  entirely  free  from 
impurities. 

TIiC  waters  of  springs,  wells,  rivers,  lakes  and 
ponds  are  still  more  impure,  owing  to  their  con- 
taining a  larger  proportion  of  foreign  substances 
in  solution  or  in  a  state  of  suspension  ;  but  it  is 
seldom  that  these  contain  sufficient  quantities  to 
render  them  altogether  unfit  for  domestic  uses  ; 
when  this  docs  happen,  they  ai'c  styled  mineral 

WATERS. 

Mineral  waters  arc  those  which  contain  so  large 
a  j)roportion  of  foreign  matter  as  to  render  them 
unfit  for  culiuarv  or  other  domestic  uses.     Thev 


7G  EXAMINATIOxV  OF  THE  WATERS. 

possess  a  distinguishing  flavor,  and  when  taken 
into  the  stomach  produce  distinct  medicinal  effects. 
They  have  been,  for  the  conveniency  of  descrip- 
tion, divided  into  distinct  classes,  each  class  re- 
ceiving an  appropriate  name  from  the  prominent 
character  given  to  the  water  by  the  articles  held 
in  solution.     Hence  we  have 

Acidulous  waters,  those  which  contain  so  large 
a  proportion  of  carbonic  acid  as  to  give  them  a 
distinguishing  character ; 

Chalybeate  waters,  containing  iron  in  some  of 
its  soluble  combinations ; 

SaUiie  W'aters,  those  which  contain  one  or  more 
of  the  saline  purging  salts  ; 

Sulphureous  waters,  those  which  contain  sul- 
j)liurctted  hydrogen  either  in  a  combined  or  un- 
combined  state. 

It  not  unfrequently  happens  that  the  same  foun- 
tain contains  all  the  foregoing  distinguishing  in- 
gredients, particularly  the  three  first,  in  which  case 
it  is  styled  an  acidulous  salu\e  chalybeate 
WATER.  To  this  class  belong  the  famous  mineral 
waters  of  Saratoga. 


EXAMrVATION  OP  THE  WATERS.  77 

Tlicse  celebrated  waters  occur  along  the 
southern  termination  of  the  secondary,  and  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  transition  formation. 
They  are  scattered  along  a  line  running  nearly 
east  and  west,  for  the  distance  of  about  twenty 
miles.  At  Ballston  Spa  there  are  a  number  of 
these  springs,  some  of  which  make  their  appear- 
ance at  the  surface  through  alluvial  deposits  of 
plastic  clay,  or  marl  and  sand,  while  others  have 
been  obtained  by  boring  to  a  considerable  depth 
in  the  transition  slate  which  here  forms  the  basis 
on  which  rests  the  alluvial  deposits.  Bctv^-een 
this  place  and  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs, 
there  are  several  of  these  fountains  of  less  note 
situated  both  in  the  transition  and  secondary  for- 
mations. At  Saratoga  Springs  they  are  more 
numerous,  and  diversified  in  their  sensible  quali- 
ties, than  at  any  other  place.  They  discover 
themselves,  in  great  numbers,  for  the  distance  of 
more  than  a  mile  along  the  valley,  in  marl,  which 
rests  on  secondary  lime-stone.  They  occur  again 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  old  town  of  Saratoga, 
at  a  place  called  the  Quaker  Springs.  The  rock 
formation  at  tlii.i  place  is  transition  slate. 

All  the  waters  of  tliese  numerous  fountains  ap- 
pear to  ])ossess  the  same  or  nearly  the  same  <ianl- 


78  EXAMINATION  OF  THE  WATERS. 

ities,  differing  in  their  medicinal  properties  only, 
in  the  quantities  of  the  articles  which  are  held  in 
solution. 

I  shall  now  proceed  to  a  separate  and  distinct 
examination  of  all  those  fountains  which  have 
excited  attention  either  from  their  notoriety,  or 
their  sensible  qualities  ;  and  I  commence  with 
the  Congress  Spring. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 


CONGRESS  SPRING. 

This  truly  celebrated  fountain  is  situated  on 
the  west  side  of  a  narrow  strip  of  low  marshy 
ground,  close  to  the  foot  of  a  beautiful  little  cas- 
cade, formed  by  a  small  limpid  stream  which 
bursts  from  the  earth  only  about  fifty  yards  west- 
erly from  the  spot.  The  spring  was  first  discov- 
ered, as  heretofore  stated,  during  the  summer  of 
1702.*  At  that  time  the  water  made  its  appear- 
ance through  a  small  aperture  in  the  side  of  a  cal- 
careous rock,  whose  margin  formed  the  border 
of  the  brook.  Here  it  was  caught  in  tumblers  as 
it  issued  from  tiie  rock  in  a  small  stream,  and  this 
formed  the  only  resource  for  obtaining  the  water 
for  several  years  after  its  discovery  ;  but  the 
quantity  afforded  was  found  altogether  insuffi- 
cient, even  at  that  early  period  of  its  use,  to 
satisfy  the  demands  of  its  visitants ;  it  therefore 


•  Jolin  Taylor  Gilnian,  who  has  since  been  governor  of  the 
slate  of  iS'cw-llaiiipbhire,  atid  a  brother  of  his,  were  in  company 
wlien  ihiH  spring  was  first  noticed,  but  it  is  not  no^^•  certainly 
known  which  of  the  two  first  discovered  it. 


80  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

became  desirable  to  obtain  a  larger  quantity,  and 
with  a  view  to  effect  this  object,  some  efforts 
were  made  which  unfortunately  resulted  in  com- 
pletely obstructing  the  passage  of  the  water,  and 
for  a  time  the  spring  was  supposed  to  be  irre- 
trievably lost. 

Not  long  after  this  accident,  Mr.  Putnam,  a 
gentleman  whose  name  I  have  already  had  occa- 
sion to  mention,  who  then  resided  near  the  spot, 
and  who  ranked  among  the  most  enterprizing  of 
the  early  settlers,  observed  bubbles  of  gas  break- 
ing through  the  water  in  the  middle  of  the  brook, 
a  few  feet  south  and  east  from  the  site  of  the 
former  fountain.  Governed  by  the  hope  of  be- 
ing able  to  recover  the  original  fountain,  he  turn- 
ed the  stream  from  its  course,  and  having  cxca^ 
vated  the  earth  to  the  depth  of  about  eight  feet, 
discovered  a  strong  mineral  water  rising  in  vari- 
ous places  through  a  very  liard  and  compact 
stratum  of  indurated  marl  imbedded  with  round- 
ed pebbles  and  coarse  gravel.  He  prepared  a 
square  tube  made  of  strong  plank,  about  ten 
inches  in  diameter,  and  of  sufficient  length  to 
reach  from  the  bottom  of  the  excavation  to  a 
little  above  the  surface  ;  this  he  placed  upriglit 
in  the  well,  and,  having  adjusted  the  lower  end  so 
as  to  include  a  number  of  these  separate  little 
fountains,  replaced  the  earth  firmly  around  ii,  and 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRIXQS.  81 

thus  secured  to  posterity  the  possession  of  a  min- 
eral water  which,  for  its  peculiar  medicinal  prop- 
erties, stands  unrivalled. 

In  this  curb,  which  is  perfectly  tight,  the  water 
rises  to  a  few  inches  above  the  surface  of  the 
brook,  which  still  passes  close  to  the  spring,  and 
hero  it  becomes  stationary.  A  little  below  this 
point,  however,  it  is  suffered  to  escape  through  a 
small  aperture  made  in  the  side  of  the  curb  for 
the  purpose.  At  this  aperture,  when  the  spring 
is  not  disturbed,  the  water  issues  at  the  rate  of 
something  less  than  a  gallon  per  minute.  The 
quantity  of  water,  however,  which  the  fountain 
affords,  seems  to  be  inexhaustible,  for  when  the 
pressure  has  been  removed  by  lessening  the  col- 
umn of  water  in  the  curb,  as  when  it  has  been 
rapidly  dipped  out,  it  rushes  in  with  such  rapidity 
that  it  becomes  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  re- 
move the  whole  contents  of  the  well. 

Pli|Tsical  Properties  of  the  'Water. 

The  surface  of  the  well  is  constantly  agitated 
by  the  escape  of  gas  in  ffne  bubbles,  giving  the 
appearance  of  simmering,  not  unlike  tiiat  wiiich 
water  exliibits  just  before  the  process  of  violent 
ebullition  lakes  place. 


82  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

When  first  dipped,  the  water  is  remarkably 
hmped  and  sparkling,  and  were  it  not  for  the 
constant  escape  of  gas  in  innumerable  fine  points, 
it  would  be  perfectly  transparent.  It  however 
becomes  turbid  after  standing  a  short  time  ex- 
posed to  the  air  ;  a  delicate  white  pellicle  forms 
on  its  surface,  which  terminates  in  a  reddish 
brown  sediment.  This  sediment  is  likewise  ob- 
servable in  the  well,  being  incrustated  on  the 
walls  of  the  curb  and  along  the  surface,  over 
which  the  water  makes  its  egress  to  the  adjoin- 
ing brook. 

Transparent  glasses  and  bottles  which  have 
been  much  used  in  the  water,  or  in  which  the 
water  has  been  suffered  to  stand  for  any  length 
of  time,  become  tarnished,  and  though  carefully 
washed,  retain  a  strong  iridescent  stain. 

Its  saline  and  gaseous  properties  are  very  per- 
ceptible to  the  palate,  and  to  most  persons  not 
offensive.  When  swallowed,  its  effects  depend 
in  a  great  measure  upon  the  state  of  the  stomach 
at  the  time  of  receiving  it,  and  upon  the  quantity 
drank.  When  taken,  however,  in  a  moderate 
draught,  by  a  person  in  tolerable  health,  the  sen- 
sation is  seldom,  if  ever,  unpleasant ;  and  to  those 
who  are  in  the  habitual  use  of  it,  particularly  in 
the  hot  season,  it  is  a  deli<ihtful  beverase. 


DESCRIPTION  OP  THE  SPRINGS.  83 

Its  most  obvious  effect,  when  taken  into  the 
stomach  as  a  medicine,  is  that  of  a  cathartic  and 
diuretic.  In  most  habits  this  effect  is  produced 
by  drinking  from  four  to  six  half  pints  in  the 
morning  before  eating.  Soon  after  taking  it,  the 
person  feels  a  sense  of  fullness  about  the  stomach 
and  bowels,  attended  with  frequent  eructations  of 
fixed  air,  a  slight  giddiness  of  the  head,  and  a  sen- 
sation bordering  on  a  disposition  to  sleep.  These 
feelings,  however,  are  soon  removed  by  the  copi- 
ous discharges  that  almost  immediately  follow, 
leaving  the  stomach  with  an  increased  appetite 
for  food,  and  a  disposition  for  exercise  unattended 
with  languor. 

The  respiration  of  all  breathing  animals  is  im- 
mediately affected  by  coming  in  close  contact 
with  the  surface  of  this  fountain.  The  gas  which 
issues  from  it  is  immediately  fatal  to  the  lives  of 
animals  which  happen  to  be  immersed  in  it,  and 
even  fishes  and  frogs  survive  but  a  short  time 
when  placed  in  the  water. 

Flour,  when  made  into  a  paste  or  dougii  with 
the  water  frcsli  from  the  sj)ring,  and  immediately 
baked,  forms  a  tolerably  light  bread  while  warm  ; 
but  when  cold,  it  becomes  clammy  and  heavy  like 
milcavoned  ])read.  The  water  is  much  uscmI  by 
the  country  people  for  making  "  hot  cakes."     The 


84  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRINGS. 

flour  is  mixed  with  the  water  and  a  quantity  of 
sour  cream,  and  i&  ready  for  baking  as  soon  as 
the  ingredients  are  sufficiently  ,lcneeded  together. 
It  forms  a  very  palatable  hot  cake,  and  recom- 
mends itself  on  account  of  the  expedition  with 
which  it  is  prepared. 

Preliminary  Observations. 

The  temperature  of  the  water  of  this  spring,  as 
shown  by  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  when  im- 
mersed in  the  bottom  of  the  well,  is  50  deg.,  and 
it  does  not  appear  to  suffer  any  sensible  variation 
either  during  the  summer  or  winter  months.  At 
a  time  when  the  thermometer  in  the  open  air 
stood  at  14  deg.  below  zero,  and  at  another,  when 
it  was  90  deg.  above,  the  water  at  the  bottom  of 
the  well  was  still  at  50  deg. 

The  specific  gravity  of  the  water  at  the  tempe- 
rature of  (30  deg.,  the  barometer  ranging  at  29.5 
inches,  is  1009.7,  pure  water  being  one  thousand. 
Excessive  wet,  or  long  seasons  of  dry  weather, 
seem  to  produce  a  slight  variation  from  this  result ; 
but  repeated  experiments,  made  at  different  peri- 
ods and  under  various  circumstances  of  season, 
&c.  for  tlic  space  of  more  than  twenty  years, 
have  in  no  instance  produced  a  deviation  of  more 
than  the  0.5  of  a  iirain. 


©"ESCRIPTION  OP  THE  SPRINGS.  85 

A  thin,  transparent  glass  flask  was  filled  with 
the  water  fresh  from  the  spring,  a  thermometer 
was  immersed  in  it,  and  the  whole  placed  in  a 
sand  bath,  to  which  the  heat  was  gradually  ap- 
plied. 

At  the  temperature  of  65  deg.,  there  was  a 
perceptible  increase  of  air  bubbles  formed  at  the 
bottom  of  the  flask,  and  passuig  up  in  rapid  suc- 
cession through  the  water. 

At  80  deg.  the  water  became  much  aghated 
by  tiic  rapid  disengagement  of  the  gas,  and  its 
transparency  slightly  affected  by  a  faint  milky 
ai)pcarance. 

At  100  deg.  tlie  commotion  in  the  water,  from 
the  abundant  escape  of  gas,  continued  to  increase 
as  the  temperature  advanced,  and  the  milkiness 
became  mure  conspicuous. 

At  150  dog.  the  profusion  of  air  bubbles  con- 
tmucd,  and  there  appeared  a  very  delicate  white 
j)f;llicle  forming  on  tlie  surface  of  the  water,  and 
the  turijidncss  assumed  a  browiiish  shade. 

At  180  (leg.  the  air  bubbles  still  continued  to 
♦jscape  in  great  abundance,  and  the  pelhcle  ap- 
peared broken  and  began  to  be  ileposited,  togeth- 
II 


86  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SPRIXGS. 

er  with  a  light  flaky  powder,  which  accumulated 
at  the  bottom  of  the  flask. 

At  200  deg.  the  water  became  less  turbid,  and 
the  escape  of  gas  had  nearly  ceased.  It  was 
then  suffered  to  boil  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour, 
and  then  removed  from  the  sand  bath;  and  when 
cold,  it  became  nearly  clear  and  exhibited  an  a- 
bundance  of  a  reddish  brown  sediment.  It  had 
lost  its  pungent  acid  flavor,  but  was  decidedly 
more  saline. 


ExperiMiCMts  ^vitli  Tests. 

Exp.  1.  Lime  water,  added  in  considerable 
quantity,  produced  a  milky  turbidness,  which  ter- 
minated in  a  pulverulent  white  precipitate.  This 
effect  is  not  produced  on  water  that  has  been 
previousl}^  boiled. 

Exp.  2.  Tincture  of  litmus  produced  a  light 
red  colour,  when  added  to  water  just  dipped  from 
the  wxll.  Litmus  paper  was  likewise  reddened  by 
plunging  it  into  the  water  and  retaining  it  there  a 
few  minutes  ;  the  blue  colour  of  the  litmus  paper 
was,  however,  restored  on  exposing  it  for  a  few 
minutes  to  the  air,  or  on  drying  it  by  the  fire. 
The  water,  after  being  boiled,  had  no  effect  on 
the  colour  of  htmus  paper  ;  but  strips  of  this  pa- 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  TEST*.  87 

per,  reddened  with  distilled  vinegar  and  then 
dipped  into  the  water,  had  its  blue  colour  re- 
stored. 

Exp.  3.  Tincture  of  red  cabbage  produced  a 
beautiful  green  colour,  and  this  was  effected  as 
readily  after  the  water  had  been  boiled  as  before ; 
the  effect,  however,  was  best  displayed  on  water 
that  had  been  considerably  concentrated  by  evap- 
oration. 

Exp.  4.  Tincture  of  turmeric  was  converted 
into  an  orange  colour  when  added  to  a  quantity 
of  the  water,  and  when  the  water  had  been  much 
concentrated  by  boiling,  it  was  im'mediately  con- 
verted into  a  brick  red. 

Exp.  5.  Tincture  of  nutgalls,  dropped  into  the 
water  when  taken  recently  from  the  spring,  in- 
stantly produced  a  light  purple  tinge,  which  be- 
came much  deeper  after  standing  some  time  ex- 
posed to  the  air.  No  such  eftect  was  produced 
on  water  that  had  been  previously  boiled. 

Exp.  C).  Prussiate  of  potash  produced  a  slight 
green  tinge,  whicii,  after  standing  some  lime,  be- 
came azuie.  Tiiis  experiment  succeeded  best 
when  the  water  had  been  previously  saturated 
with  sulphuric  or  muriatic  acid ;  it  then  termina- 


88  Congress  spring. 

ted  in  producing  a  precipitate  of  Prussian  blue- 
On  water  that  had  been  boiled,  or  suffered  to 
stand  for  some  time  exposed  to  the  air,  the  prus^- 
siate  of  potash  had  no  sensible  effect. 

Exp.  7.  Muriate  of  barytes,  after  standing 
some  minutes  mixed  with  the  water  fresh  from 
the  fountain,  produced  a  slight  cloudiness,  which 
terminated  in  a  white  precipitate,  which  was  en- 
tirely dissolved  with  effervescence  in  muriatic 
acid.  When  the  water  liad  been  considerably 
concentrated,  the  precipitate  was  formed  much 
more  rapidly. 

Exp.  8.  Bar^^tic  water,  when  mixed  with  the 
water  considerably  concentrated  by  boiling,  pro- 
duced a  white  precipitate,  which,  like  tliat  in  Exp. 
7,  was  entirely  dissolved  with  effervescence  in 
muriatic  acid. 

Exp.  9.  Oxalic  acid  produced  an  immediate 
active  effervescence,  which  was  succeeded  by  a 
dense  white  precipitate. 

Exp.  10.  Oxalate  of  ammonia  produced  an 
immediate  turbidness,  which  terminated  in  a  copi- 
ous white  precipitate  ;  when  applied  to  water  that 
had  been  boiled  for  some  time,  a  slight  change  in. 
its  transparency  only  was  produced. 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  TESTS.  89 

Exp.  1 1 .  Carbonate  of  ammonia,  when  added 
in  considerable  quantities,  produced  a  faint  milky 
turbidness  ;  but,  on  the  addition  of  the  phosphate 
of  soda,  a  copious  white  granular  precipitate  was 
immediately  formed. 

Exp.  12.  Pure  ammonia  produced  an  immedi- 
ate change  in  the  transparency  of  the  water,  .which 
was  followed  by  a  copious  precipitate. 

Exp.  13.  Pure  potash  produced  nearly"  the 
same  effect. 

Exp.  14.  Sulphuric  acid  produced  an  instan- 
taneous and  very  rapid  effervescence,  which  re- 
sulted in  an  abundant  white  precipitate. 

Exp.  15.  Nitric  and  muriatic  acid  produced  a 
similar  discngagoinent  of  gas,  but  their  effect  was 
not  followed  by  a  pr jcij)itate  of  any  kind. 

Exp.  10.  Nitrate  of  silver  produced  a  thick 
cloud,  which  immediately  collected  into  flakes  and 
fell  to  the  bottom  of  tho  vessel  in  great  abund- 
ance. This  effect  was  the  same  on  water  that 
hat!  been  boiled  as  on  that  which  had  not.  The 
precipitate  was  of  a  white  curdy  appearance 
when  first  produced,  but.  soon  became  of  a  dark 
muddy  colour.     This  change  of  colour,  however^ 


so  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

did  not  take  place  when  the  vessel  containing 
the  mixture  was  kept  excluded  from  the  rays  of 
Kght 

Exp.  17.  Muriate  of  platina  produced  no  ef- 
fect, either  on  water  fresh  from  the  fountain,  or 
on  that  which  had  been  previously  boiled  ;  but 
by  evaporating  two  gallons  of  the  water  by  a 
slow  heat,  until  cubic  crj^stals  began  to  form,  fil- 
tering the  remaining  liquor  and  again  evaporating 
until  its  bulk  was  much  reduced  by  the  crystalli- 
zation of  its  saline  ingredients,  and  then  adding  a 
small  quantity  of  this  test  to  the  remaining  solu- 
tion, a  very  minute  quantity  of  a  bright  yellow 
precipitate  was  produced. 

Exp.  18.  Chlorine  gas.  To  a  portion  of  the 
solution  obtained  from  four  gallons  of  water,  in 
the  manner  related  in  the  foregoing  experiment, 
a  quantity  of  chlorine  gas  was  transmitted,  which 
immediately  converted  the  liquid  into  a  reddish 
yellow  colour.  A  small  quantity  of  pure  sulphu- 
ric ether  dissolved  the  coloring  substance  of  the 
solution,  becoming  itself  of  a  hyacinth  red  tint ; 
and  this  was  again  rendered  colourless,  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  drop  or  two  of  costic  potash. 

Exp.  19.  A  solution  of  starch  was  added  to  a 
^rortion  of  the  water,  containing  the  soluble  salts. 


INFERENCES.  91 

evaporated  until  crystallization  commenced ;  to 
this  solution  a  few  drops  of  dilute  sulpuric  acid 
was  added,  which  gave  to  the  whole  solution  a 
deep  violet  colour,  which  was  destroyed  by  the 
introduction  of  a  stream  of  chlorine. 


INFERENCES, 

Drawn  from  the  foregoing  observations  and  ex- 
periments.  • 

1st.  That  this  fountain  has  its  source  at  a  great 
depth  in  the  earth,  as  is  evinced  from  the  regular- 
ity of  its  temperature  at  various  and  extreme  states 
of  the  atmosphere,  and  from  the  circumstance 
of  its  being  but  slightly  affected  by  wet  and  dry 
weather. 

2d.  That  the  water  of  this  fountain  retains  its 
original  properties,  or  its  medicinal  qualities,  the 
same  at  least  as  they  were  twenty  years  ago,  as  is 
evinced  by  the  uniformity  of  its  specific  gravity 
during  that  period. 

3d.  That  it  contains  a  large  proportion  of  a  gas- 
eous material  in  a  free  and  in  a  combined  state, 
as  is  made  evident  by  the  eflects  produced  by  the 
application  of  heat. 


92  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

4th.  That*  the  gas  so  copiously  evolved  from 
the  water  is  the  carbonic  acid  or  fixed  air,  as  is 
inferred  from  Exp.  1  and  2. 

5th.  That  the  water  contains  a  carbonated  al- 
kaH,  agreeably  to  Exp.  3  and  4. 

Gth.  That  oxide  of  iron  forms  one  of  the  con- 
stituent properties  of  the  water,  and  that  it  is  held 
in  solution  by  an  excess  of  carbonic  acid,  agi'eea- 
bly  to  Exp.  5  and  6. 

7th.  That  it  does  not  contain  sulphuric  acid  un- 
der any  form  or  combination,  as  is  evinced  from 
the  action  of  muriate  of  barytcs  and  barytic  water  ; 
the  effect  which  these  tests  produce  being  referi- 
ble  to  their  union  with  a  carbonated  alkaK.  See 
Exp.  7  and  8. 

8th.  That  it  contains  carbonate  of  lime  in  abun- 
dance, agreeably  to  Exp.  9  and  10. 

9th.  That  it  contains  a  large  proportion  of  car- 
bonate of  magnesia,  agreeably  to  Exp.  11. 

lOlh.  That  the  carbonates  contained  in  the 
water  form  a  large  proportion  of  the  ingredi- 
ents held  in  solution,  agreeably  to  Exp.  12,  13, 
14  and  15. 


INFERENCES.  9S 

11th.  That  it  contams  a  large  proportion  of  a 
muriatic  salt,  agreeably  to  Exp.  16. 

12th.  That  the  carbonated  alkali,  evinced  by 
Exp.  3  and  4,  is  the  carbonate  of  soda,  as  is  made 
evident  by  Exp.  17.  This  experiment,  likewise, 
indicates  tlie  presence  of  a  minute  quantity  of  the 
vegetable  alkali  or  potassa. 

13th.  That  the  water  contains  the  newly  dis- 
covered elementary  substance  termed  hrome  or 
bromine,  is  made  abundantly  evident  by  Exp.  18. 

14th.  That  iodine  forms  another  of  the  constit- 
uent properties  of  this  interesting  and  truly  distin- 
guished water,  is  satisfactorily  demonstrated  by 
Exp.  i9. 

Thus,  then,  we  have  certain  indications,  as  far 
as  tests  can  be  relied  on,  that  the  water  of  this 
fountain  holds  the  following  substances  in  solu- 
tion, viz. 

Cari)onic  Acid,  Muriatic  Acid, 

Soda,  Potassa  or  Potash, 

Iron,  Bromine,  and 

Lime,  Iodine. 
Magnesia, 


94  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

It  remains  to  investigate  the  manner  in  which 
these  substances  are  combined,  and  to  determine 
the  proportions  in  which  they  enter  into  the  com- 
position of  the  water. 

EXAMINATION   OF  Til*    GASEOtS   CONTENTS    OF  THE 
WATER. 

A  quantity  of  the  gas  was  procured  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  A  large  bladder  was  prepared, 
and  to  its  mouth  w-as  secured  a  stopcock,  to  the 
end  of  which  was  fitted  the  small  aperture  of  a 
large  glass  funnel.  Tiie  funnel  was  inverted  in 
the  spring,  and  as  soon  as  it  became  filled  with  gas, 
the  stop  cock  attached  to  tlie  bladder  was  appHed, 
and  the  bladder,  which  was  dry  and  had  been  pre- 
viously emptied  by  rolling,  was  now  suffered  to  fill 
with  the  gas  as  it  escaped  from  the  water.  In 
this  way  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  gas,  for  all 
the  purposes  of  experimenting,  may  readily  be  ob- 
tained at  any  time. 

A  quantity  of  this  gas  was  pressed  from  the 
bladder  into  a  tumbler,  in  which  was  inmiersed 
a  lighted  taper,  which  was  immediately  extin- 
guished. 

A  sprigiitly  live  mouse  was  confined  in  the  bot- 
tom of  a  glass  which  was  filled  with  the  gas,  and 
it  expired  in  less  fhan  a  minute. 


GASEOUS  CONTENTS.  95 

Ii  was  emptied  O'om  one  glass  to  another,  and 
continued  to  occupy  its  station  in  tlie  glasses  for 
some  minutes,  evincing  its  presence  by  continuing 
to  extinguish  flame,  ccc. 

A  small  quantity  of  the  gas  was  pressed  from 
the  bladder  into  a  glass  vessel  containing  a  quan- 
tity of  pure  transparent  lime-water.  It  immedi- 
ately became  milky,  and  threw  down  a  white  pre- 
cijiitate,  which  dissolved  in  dilute  muriatic  acid 
with  a  strong  effervescence. 

Litmus  paper,  a  little  moistened  and  immersed 
in  a  glass  containing  the  gas  was  immediately  col- 
oured red,  but  retained  its  florid  colour  no  longer 
than  it  retained  its  moisture. 

A  (iuantity  f)f  the  gas  was  passed  up  from  the 
hh'hlcr  into  a  graduated  glass  jar,  flilcd  with  and 
inverted  in  a  solution  of  costic  potash.  A  largo 
[)r<!pasi'tion  of  the  gas  was  almost  inin;of;iatcly  ab- 
sorbed by  the  solution,  wiiile  a  very  j.v.niil  quantity 
remained  in  the  top  of  the  jar  appar.jntly  unaflcci- 
cd  by  it.  Gd<  %\as  continuiid  to  be  added  to  the 
cr.nte'Uls  of  the  jar  until  its  graduated  sides  indica- 
ted a  quantity  (jf  t(;n  inch's,  \\hi(:h  remained  and 
continued  undissolved  by  the  costic  S(/lution.  To 
tc-:t  the  properties  of  the  remaining  ten  inches,  a 
piece  of  phosphoiMis  was  secured  to  the  end  of  a 
wire  and  passed  u[)  into  the  gas,  and  being  bronglit 


^  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

close  to  the  side  of  this  jar,  was  ignited  by  the 
cautious  application  of  a  heated  iron  to  the  out- 
side. It  burned  for  a  moment  with  its  usual  bril- 
liancy, but  soon  became  dim  and  went  out.  It 
was  again  lit,  by  the  re-application  of  the  hot  iron, 
but  was  extinguished  in  the  same  breath,  and 
could  not  again  be  rekindled,  although  it  was 
slightly  fused  by  the  application  of  the  iron.  The 
gas  in  the  jar  was  at  first  a  little  dilated,  but  after 
being  cooled  to  its  former  temperature,  it  was 
found  to  have  sustained  a  diminution  of  bulk  to 
the  amount  of  about  two  inches,  or  one  fifth  of  the 
whole  ;  thus  demonstrating  that  the  gas,  remain- 
ing unaffected  by  the  operation  of  the  solution  of 
costic  potash,  was  pure  atmospheric  air. 

From  the  results  of  these  experiments,  then,  we 
are  bound  to  infer  that  the  gas  which  escapes  in 
such  profusion  from  this  spi'ing  consists  simply  of 
the  carbonic  acid,  with  a  small  proportion  of  at- 
mosphei'ic  air.  To  ascertain  the  proportions  of 
each,  and  the  amount  contained  in  a  given  quan- 
tity of  the  water,  the  following  method  was  adop- 
ted : 

A  tin  bottle  or  jar,  of  the  capacity  of  two  quarts 
or  115.5  cubic  inches,  was  procured,  and  its  mouth 
secured  and  rendered  perfectly  tight  by  the  appli- 
cation of  a  well   adjusted  stopcock  ;  to  this  was 


GASEOUS  CONTENTS.  9*l[ 

Kicely  fitted  one  end  of  a  small  flexible  leaden 
tube,  about  two  feet  in  length,  at  the  other  end  of 
which  was  altachcd  a  capacious  and  well  prepai'cd 
bladder.  This  jar  was  filled  with  the  water  to  be 
examined,  at  the  spring,  and  the  stopcock  imme- 
diately applied  and  secured.  It  was  then  placed 
in  a  water  bath,  and  the  bladder  connected  with 
the  flexible  tube  being  previously  well  emptied, 
was  suspended  in  a  large  glass  vessel  fitted  for  the 
purpose,  and  filled  witii  pure  water  of  the  tempe- 
rature of  GO  deg.  Tiio  tube  having  received  a 
proper  curvature,  was  connected  with  the  stop- 
cock. Ilcat  was  now  applied  to  the  bath  in  which 
the  jar  containing  the  water  was  placed,  the  valve 
of  the  cock  opened,  and  the  gas  suffered  to  escape 
through  the  tube  into  the  bladder,  which,  as  it  di- 
lated, forced  the  water  in  which  it  was  suspended 
over  into  a  glass  jar  prepared  for  its  reception  and 
gauged  to  half  inches.  It  is  obvious  that  the 
quantity  of  water  remaining  in  the  graduated  jar 
at  the  end  of  the  process  would  indicate  very 
accurately  the  quantity  of  gas  received  in  the 
bladder. 

This  apparatus  fur  (IcterminiMg  the  quantity  of 
gas  contained  in  the  water,  aside  from  the  mercu- 
rial trough,  is  urK[iK'stioiial;Iy  the  Itcst  that  could 
1)0  adopted,  and  is  in  ((Vcct  the  same  as  that  re- 
commended by  the   laic  Sir  Ilum})hrey  Davy  in 

I 


98  COKGRESS  SPRING. 

his  analysis  of  soils.  It  however  subjects  the  ex- 
periment to  the  probability  of  some  trifling  inac- 
curacies. It  is  obvious  that  the  walls  of  the  wet 
bladder  may  absorb  a  small  proportion  of  the  car- 
bonic acid,  and  thereby  render  the  quantity  ap- 
parently less  than  what  it  really  is ;  and  it  is 
equally  certain  that  the  quantity  of  atmospheric 
air  contained  in  the  tube,  together  with  the  small 
quantity  remaining  in  the  bladder,  (for  it  cannot 
be  entirely  excluded,)  must  add  somewhat  to  the 
quantity  obtained.  The  difference,  however,  in 
the  result  is  too  trifling  to  merit  a  serious  consid- 
eration. The  reception  of  the  gas  over  mercury 
would  unquestionably  be  attended  with  the  great- 
est degree  of  accuracy  ;  but  the  difficulty  of  pro- 
curing a  suiTicient  quantity  of  that  article  in  the 
country  for  the  purpose  of  accurate  experiments, 
entirely  precluded  the  possibility  of  having  re- 
course to  that  method. 

With  this  apparatus,  adjusted  in  the  manner 
just  described,  two  quarts  or  115.5  cubic  inches 
of  the  water  of  this  spring  ahordcd  159  inclics  of 
gas,  at  the  temperature  of  GO  dcg.  and  a  pressure 
of  the  atmosphere,  indicated  by  the  mercury  of 
the  barometer,  standing  at  29. o  inch.  Of  tlii.5  159 
inches,  155.5  were  absorbed  by  a  solution  of 
caustic  potash,  leaving  8.5  inches  on  which  the 
solution  had  no  eflfoct.     The  proportion  of  the  two 


GASEOUS  CONTENTS.  99 

gases,  then,  contained  in  two  quarts  of  the  water, 

will  stand  thus : 

Inch. 
Carbonic  acid  gas,  155.5 

Atmospheric  air,  3.5 

Amount  contained  in  2  qts.  of  water,     159.5 

It  is  rendered  more  than  probable,  from  the  re- 
sult of  repeated  experiments,  that  the  quantity  of- 
gas  contained  in  a  given  quantity  of  the  water  is 
not  always  exactly  the  same.  The  variation, 
however,  is  never  sufficient  to  produce  any  per- 
ceptible difterence  in  the  sensible  qualities  of  the 
water,  as  it  appears  always  to  retain  in  combina- 
tion considerably  more  than  its  bulk,  besides  a 
considerable  quantity  of  disengaged  or  free  car- 
bonic acid.  The  same  quantity  of  water  has  af- 
forded at  different  times,  under  exactly  similar 
states  of  temperature  and  pressure  of  the  atmos- 
phere, 150,  150,  159,  1(31  and  170  cubic  inches. 
From  two  quarts  of  the  water  that  had  been  ex- 
posed in  an  open  vessel  for  twenty-four  hours,  in 
a  temperature  of  00  degrees,  was  obtained  1 12 
cubic  inches  of  gas. 

It  would  tlicrtjf  jre  appear  that  the  difference  in 
these  results  arises  j)riiirij)aily  from  the  /)yc  car- 
Ijonic  acid  diffused  in  the  water,  being  in  a  greater 
or  less  f[nantity,  and  n<>t  from  any  deficiency  or 


iOO  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

increase  in  that  portion  of  the  gas  retained  in  it  ia 
a  state  of  combination  or  solution. 

The  portion  of  free  or  uncombined  gas  must  be 
considerably  affected  by  the  frequent  and  violent 
agitation  of  the  water  in  the  well,  occasioned  by 
the  process  of  dipping  it  out  for  use,  and  in  filling- 
bottles  for  transportation  ;  and  to  this  circum- 
stance may  be  imputed  the  variations  alluded  to. 
But  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  quantity  of  tlie 
gas  extricated  from  the  interior  of  the  earth,  un- 
der various  circumstances  and  at  different  times, 
should  become  more  or  less  abundant. 

EXAMINATION  OF  THE  SOLID  CONTENTS  OF  THE 
WATERS. 

It  has  already  been  shown,  by  the  application 
of  tests,  &c.  that  some  of  the  solid  ingredients 
w'hich  form  a  constituent  part  of  the  contents  of 
the  water,  are  in  such  minute  quantities  as  to  re- 
quire the  evaporation  of  a  large  portion  in  order 
to  arrive  at  accurate  results  in  estimating  their 
quantities,  while  others  enter  so  liberally  into  its 
composition  as  to  be  more  readily  and  accurately 
determined  by  separating  them  from  a  much  less 
quantity  of  the  water.  The  following  process 
was  adopted  r 


SOUD  CONTENTS.  101 

A  given  quantity  of  the  water  was  taken  fresh 
from  the  spring  and  placed  in  a  clean  porcelain 
basin,  and  suffered  to  evaporate  in  a  water  bath 
heated  by  a  small  lamp,  and  kept  at  a  temperature 
in  no  instance  exceeding  160  deg.  of  Fahrenheit. 
The  basin  was  secured  from  the  intrusion  of  for- 
eign substances  by  a  cover  of  two  or  three  folds  of 
fine  crape.  In  this  manner  it  was  suffered  to  dry 
gradually  away,  until  cubic  crystals  began  to  form 
along  the  sides  of  the  basin.  It  was  then  removed 
from  the  bath,  and,  while  warm,  thrown  upon  a 
filter,  and  the  insoluble  mass  well  washed  with 
hot  recently  distilled  water,  and  then  carefully  re- 
moved from  the  filter  into  a  glass  basin,  which 
was  placed  in  a  water  bath,  and  its  contents  dried 
in  a  temperature  of  212  deg.  In  this  way  the 
solid  contents  of  the  water  were  divided  into  two 
parts,  soluble  and  uiDoluble. 

Examinatioji  of  the  soluble  juirts. 
Two  separate  parcels  of  the  soluble  salts  or 
filtered  solutions,  each  obtained  from  forty-five 
cubic  inches  of  the  water,  were  subjected  to  tiic 
following  examination  : 

Parcel  1st  was  placed  in  a  glass  basin  and 
evaporated  in  a  water  bath  to  dryness,  at  a  low 
temperature  The  rcmaiiiing  crystallized  mass 
was  finely  |)ulvcrize'l  in  a  glass  nrjrlar,  and  again 


102  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

dried  at  a  temperature  of  160  deg.  for  several' 
hours.  Over  this  dry  saline  residuum  was  poured 
a  small  quantity  of  alcohol,  of  the  specific  gravity 
of  0.815.  After  standing  some  time  and  being 
frequently  agitated,  the  whole  was  thrown  on  a 
filter,  and  what  remained  on  the  paper,  after  be- 
ing well  washed  by  repeated  applications  of  small 
quantities  of  alcohol,  was  again  dried  and  num- 
bered 1.  The  alcoholic  solution  was  evaporated 
to  dryness  at  a  low  temperature,  and  again  digest- 
ed in  a  much  smaller  quantity  of  alcohol,  of  the 
same  specific  gravity  as  before.  A  few  very  mi- 
nute cubic  crystals  remained  undissolved  by  this 
last  portion  of  the  alcohol.  They  consisted  of  the 
muriate  of  soda,  which  had  been  taken  up  by  the 
larger  portion  of  the  alcohol  used  in  the  first 
washing  of  the  saline  mass.  They  were  transfer- 
red to  No.  1.  The  alcoholic  solution  w^as  again 
evaporated  and  dried,  and  weighed  while  warm 
something  more  than  0,7  of  a  grain.  This  was 
dissolved  in  a  cold  solution  of  starch,  in  a  small 
test  tube,  and  a  drop  or  two  of  dilute  sulphuric 
acid  added.  The  whole  immediately  assumed  a 
deep  purple  tinge,  which,  on  standing  some  time, 
was  precipitated  with  the  starch,  giving  to  it  the 
w^ell  known  characteristic  blue  color  afforded  by 
the  presence  of  Iodine,  A  few  bubbles  of  chlo- 
rine gas  were  passed  into  the  mixture.  The  blue 
color  faded  immediately  and  disappeai-ed, 


SOLID  CONTENTS.  103 

An  equal  quantity  of  this  salt,  obtained  from 
the  same  quantity  of  the  water  and  in  the  same 
way,  was  dissolved  in  a  fluid  drachm  of  pure  wa- 
ter, to  which  a  drop  or  two  of  the  muriate  of 
platina  was  added.  No  indications  of  potasli  were 
manifested  ;  the  solution  remained  scarcely  alter- 
ed in  its  color,  and  no  precipitate  appeared.. 

Iodine  may  exist  in  a  mineral  water  in  the  state 
of  an  iodic  or  h(/dr iodic  acid,  combined  with  either 
of  the  alkalies,  potash  or  soda  forming  the  iodate 
or  hydriodate  of  the  alkali  with  which  they  are 
united.  The  presence  of  potash  is  only  indicated 
in  the  water  by  experimenting  on  large  portions  ; 
it  is  not  satisfactorily  indicated  even  in  the  residu- 
um of  a  gallon,  and  not  at  all  in  that  obtained 
from  forty-five  cubic  inches  of  the  water,  as  has 
just  been  shown.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  soda 
is  the  alkaline  base  which  retains  the  acid  in  ques- 
tion, forming  the  iodate  or  hydriodate  of  soda. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  alcohol  dissolves 
the  whole  of  the  substance  which  discovers  the 
presence  of  iodine  ;  and  as  iodate  of  soda  is  not 
soluble  in  that  menstruni,  we  are  bound  to  infer 
that  the  salt  in  (juostion  is  the  In/driodatc  of  soda. 

The  inconsidcrablcncss  of  this  salt  aftordcd  by 
the  above  quantity  of  the  water  not  admitting  of 


104  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

all  the  accuracy  desirable  in  estimating  the  quan- 
tity of  so  important  an  article,  recourse  was  had 
to  another  process  ;  the  dry  soluble  salt^  obtained 
from  two  gallons,  or  402  cubic  inches  of  the  wa- 
ter, was  submitted  to  the  action  of  alcohol  with 
the  same  precaution  as  before  related,  and  from 
this  quantity  was  obtained  a  trifle  over  7  grains. 
It  exhibited  all  the  characteristic  properties  of  the 
hydriodate  of  soda  already  noticed,  and  in  addi- 
tion afforded  evidences  of  containing  a  trace  of 
bromine  and  potash :  substances,  the  character 
and  properties  of  which  will  be  ipvestigated  in 
another  paragraph.  , 

These  seven  grains  of  the  hydriodrate  of  soda, 
together  with  several  other  smaller  parcels  of  the 
same  salt  obtained  at  different  times  from  differ- 
ent quantities  of  the  water,  were  together  placed 
in  a  Florence  flask  and  dissolved  in  an  ounce  or 
two  of  pure  water ;  the  flask  was  placed  over  a 
spirit  lamp,  and  as  its  contents  became  hot,  a  few 
drops  of  sulphuric  acid  were  added  to  the  solu- 
tion, when  the  well  known  purple  fumes  of  iodine 
appeared  very  conspicuous  at  the  neck  of  the 
flask,  furnishing  the  niDst  incontcstible  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  that  substance. 

Having  thus  finished  the  investigation  relating 
to  the  presence  and  quantify  of  iodine,  the  further 


SOLID  CONTENTS.  105 

separation  of  the  soluble  salts  was  resumed.  The 
mass  numbered  1  of  parcel  I,  which  remained 
after  the  action  of  the  alcohol,  was  dissolved  in 
an  ounce  of  pure  water,  and  dilute  acetic  acid 
added  in  small  quantities  at  a  time  as  long  as 
any  effervescence  was  produced.  Tlie  whole 
was  then  dried  at  a  low  temperature,  and  again 
digested  in  alcohol  of  the  same  specific  gravity  as 
before ;  it  was  filtered,  and  the  filtered  solution 
evaporated,  and  a  quantity  of  acetate  of  soda 
procured.  Tliis  was  subjected  to  a  low  red  heat, 
in  a  platina  capsule,  tlie  acetic  acid  was  thus  ex- 
pelled, and  the  sub-carbonate  of  soda  remained, 
weighing  1.25  grains,  equivalent  to  1.75  grains  of 
the  bi-carbonatc  ;  in  which  state  it  probably 
enters  into  the  composition  of  the  water. 

Tlie  remaining  saline  substance  was  dissolved 
in  a  quantity  of  pure  water,  in  a  suitable  precipi- 
tating glass,  and  to  the  clear  solution  was  added 
a  solution  of  the  nitrate  of  silver ;  it  was  added 
in  small  quantities  at  a  time,  as  long  as  any  tur- 
bidness  was  produced.  It  was  then  filtered, 
washed  with  ropcatwl  portions  of  distilled  water, 
and  the  precipitate  carefully  dried  ;  it  allorded 
182. 5  grains  ol"  chloride  of  silver,  ccinivalent  to 
75  "rains  of  ilie  chloride  of  sodium,  or  sea  spJt. 


106  COXGRESS  SPRIXG. 

In  order  to  test  the  accuracy  of  the  foregoing 
results,  parcel  II,  which  had  been  reserved  for 
this  purpose,  was  evaporated,  its  contents  dried 
and  digested  in  alcohol,  with  the  same  precau- 
tions as  parcel  I,  and  exactly  the  same  quantity 
of  hyrdiodate  of  soda  obtained.  The  remaining 
salts  were  dissolved  in  two  ounces  of  pure  water, 
and  a  solution  of  muriate  of  barytes  added  in 
small  portions,  as  long  as  any  precipitate  or  dis- 
coloration was  produced.  The  precipitate  was 
now  obtained  on  a  filter,  washed  with  pure 
water,  and  carefully  dried  ;  It  weighed  2.3  grains. 
It  dissolved  entire  in  dilute  muriatic  acid  with 
effervescence,  and  was  rendered  insoluble  in 
water  by  the  addition  of  sulphuric  acid.  It  was 
therefore  the  carbonate  of  barytes,  the  muriate 
of  which  had  been  decomposed ;  the  muriatic 
acid  of  the  barytes  had  united  to  the  soda,  form- 
ing muriate  of  soda,  while  the  carbonic  acid  of 
the  soda  had  united  to  the  divorced  barytes, 
forming  the  insoluble  salt,  carbonate  of  barytes, 
2.3  grains  of  which  is  equivalent  to  1.25  grains  of 
the  sub-carbonate  of  soda,  or  1.75  of  the  bi-car- 
bonatc,  as  near  as  weights  and  scales  can  be  sup- 
posed to  make  it. 

This  result,  corresponding  so  nearly  with  the 
other,  might  give  to  this  mode  of  separating  the 
carbonate  of  soda  from  the  muriate  the  prefer- 


SOLID  CONTENTS.  107 

ence,  provided  the  carbonate  of  magnesia  be 
present ;  the  muriate  of  barytes  is  not  decom- 
posed by  that  substance,  but  will  remain  in  solu- 
tion with  the  muriate  of  soda  when  the  carbonate 
of  soda  is  all  decomposed.  The  magnesia  may 
then  be  converted  into  a  muriate  by  the  addition 
of  dilute  muriatic  acid,  the  whole  dried,  and  the 
muriate  of  magnesia  taken  up  by  alcohol.  This 
process  was  adopted  in  the  present  instance,  but 
no  muriate  of  magnesia  was  procured.  It  is  to 
be  presumed,  therefore,  that  the  carbonate  of 
magnesia  is  not  held  ui  solution  with  the  soluble 
salts,  at  least  not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  be 
appreciated. 

The  discovery  of  iodine  and  bromine  in  some 
of  the  mineral  springs  of  Europe  led  to  the  con- 
jecture that  they  might  bo  found  to  enter  into  the 
composition  of  the  waters  of  ►Saratoga,  and  this 
conjecture  v.-as  strengthened  by  the  knowledge 
(if  their  great  efficacy  in  the  cure  of  a  variety  of 
strumus  aifectioiis,  f  r  v.i)ic!i  their  known  prop- 
erties did  not  very  satisfactorily  account. 

Iodine  was  Hrst  def^jctcd  in  th(}^o  waters  in  the 
lull  (jf  1.S28,  and  annouiircil  in  IStii),  in  the  Amer- 
ican Journal  of  Science  :  and  Afi".  A.  A.  Hayes, 
of  New-llaven,  <.\<A<:cicd    bromine    and    potasli, 


108  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

and  announced  the  discovery  in  the  same  Journal 
in  July,  1830. 

The  spare  quantity  afforded  by  the  water  of 
the  two  last  substances,  makes  it  necessary  to 
operate  on  a  large  portion  in  order  to  obtain  de- 
cisive evidence  of  their  presence.  Mr.  Hayes 
says  that  he  obtained  the  knowledge  of  the  fact 
from  "  a  portion  of  the  dry  saline  matter  left  after 
evaporating  a  large  quantity  of  the  water."  It 
has  already  been  shown  that  their  existence  in  a 
gallon  of  the  water  is  at  least  equivocal. 

With  a  view  to  corroborate  the  result  of  the 
experiments  already  noticed,  the  saline  residuum 
of  four  gallons,  or  924  cubic  inches  of  the  water 
was  procured,  effused  in  distilled  water,  filtered, 
and  the  filtered  solution  evaporated  by  a  slow 
process,  until  a  large  portion  of  the  muriate  of 
soda  had  crystallized  ;  the  remaining  liquor  was 
treated  with  chlorine  gas,  and  then  agitated  with 
a  portion  of  pure  sulphuric  ether.  On  the  addi- 
tion of  chlorine  the  liquid  assumed  an  orange  yel- 
low color,  which  was  all  taken  up  by  the  ether, 
which  then  became  of  a  hyacinth  or  reddish 
brown  tint,  arose  to  the  surface,  and  formed  a 
perfect  line  of  distinction  in  the  liquid  contents  of 
the  glass  ;  the  etherial  solution  was  removed  by 
means  of  a  glass  syringe,  and  a  drop  or  two  of  a 


SOLID    CONTENTS.  100 

solution  of  caustic  potash  added  to  it,  it  immedi- 
ately became  colorless,  and  on  suftering  the  solu- 
tion to  evaporate  in  a  low  temperature,  a  few 
minute  cubic  crystals  of  the  hydro-bromate  of 
potash  were  deposited. 

Another  portion  of  the  salts  produced  from 
four  gallons  of  the  water  was  obtained  and  pre- 
pared as  above  by  concentrating  the  solution  of 
the  soluble  salts,  until  nearly  all  the  muriate  of 
soda  was  crystallized.  To  the  clear  yellowish 
colored  liquor  which  remained  was  added  a  few 
drops  of  the  muriate  of  platina.  It  produced  an 
immediate  fine  yellow  colored  precipitate,  indica- 
ting the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of  potash. 

These  experiments  fully  establish  the  existence 
oihrominr  in  this  water.  It  is  in  the  state  of  the 
hydro-bromic  acid  united  to  potash,  forming  the 
hydro-bromate  of  potash  ;  its  quantity,  however, 
is  extremely  small,  and  can  ordy  be  accurately 
determined  by  more  extensive  and  labored  ope- 
rations. 

Examinalion  of  tite  Tnsol able  parts. 

Having  thus  sci)arated  and  determined  the 
quantities  ot"  the  various  ingrcchents  soluble  in 
pure  water,  the  saline  mass  remaining  on  the  li!- 

K 


110  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

ter,  after  the  action  of  that  fluid,  was  next  sub- 
mitted to  examination. 

The  whole  quantity  of  this  substance  obtained 
from  45  cubic  inches  of  the  water  was  placed  in 
a  Florence  flask,  and  dilute  nitric  acid  poured 
over  it  as  long  as  any  effervescence  was  pro- 
duced ;  the  acid  was  then  added  in  slight  excess, 
and  the  flask  placed  over  a  spirit  lamp,  and  its 
contents  suffered  to  boil  for  half  an  hour ;  it  was 
then  removed  from  the  stand,  and  when  cold,  a 
minute  quantity  of  a  grayish  white  powder  was 
observed  in  the  bottom  of  the  flask,  which  re- 
mained undissolved  by  the  operation  of  the  dilute 
acid  ;  this  was  separated  from  the  clear  solution 
on  a  filter,  and  after  being  well  washed,  with  dis- 
tilled water,  was  dried  at  a  low  red  heat  in  a 
platina  crucible.  It  produced  a  whitish  colored 
powder,  of  a  rough  dry  feeling  when  rubbed  be- 
tween the  fingers,  and  when  fused  with  a  little 
carbonate  of  soda  produced  a  greenish  colored 
glass.  It  was  therefore  pure  silix.  It  weighed 
as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained  0.25  grains. 

The  filtered  solution  was  then  placed  in  a  pre- 
cipitating glass,  and  a  small  quantity  of  a  solution 
of  pure  ammonia  added  ;  it  produced  a  brownish 
coloured  cloud  in  the  clear  solution,  which,  after 
adding  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  ammonia,  sub- 


SOLID  CONTENTS.  Ill 

sided  to  the  bottom  of  the  flask  m  the  form  of  a 
brown  sediment.  This  Nvas  removed  by  filtering, 
and,  being  well  washed,  was  dried  and  brought 
to  a  red  heat  in  a  platina  crucible,  and  was  then 
again  dissolved  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  and  again  pre- 
cipitated by  ammonia,  filtered,  and  the  filtered  so- 
lution added  to  that  of  the  previous  process. 
What  remained  on  the  filter  was  dried  again  at  a 
red  heat,  and  was  the  pure  red  or  per-oxide  of 
iron,  and  weighed  about  0.75  of  a  grain.  The 
quantity,  however,  of  this,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
silix,  will,  for  the  sake  of  greater  accuracy,  be  de- 
termined from  a  larger  portion  of  the  w  ater. 

After  thus  separating  the  silix  and  iron,  the  re- 
maining solution,  consisting  of  the  nitrate  of  lime 
and  magrfcsia,  was  transferred  to  a  porcelain  evap- 
orating Ijasin,  and  suftercd  to  evaporate  over  a 
moderate  heat  until  crystals  began  to  appear. 
The  nitrate  was  then  converted  into  a  sulphate, 
by  adding  dilute  sulphuric  acid  in  excess,  and 
evaporating  the  new  compound  nearly  to  dryness. 
The  residuum  was  then  transferred  to  a  platina 
crucible,  and  gradually  brought  to  a  low  red  heat. 
^Vhat  remained  consisteil  purely  of  sulphate  of 
lime  and  magnesia,  and  weighed,  while  warm, 
41.;")  grains.  To  separate  these  two  sahs,  a  sat- 
urated sfjiution  of  sulphate  of  lime  in  distilled  wa- 
ter was  used  ;  it  dissolved  tiic  sulphate  of  magnc- 


112  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

sia,  which  was  filtered  from  the  remaining  insolu- 
ble sulphate  of  lime,  and  this  last  was  again  dried 
at-a  low  red  heat,  and  weighed  while  warm  24 
grains,  equivalent  to  19.11  grains  of  the  carbonate 
of  lime. 

The  sulphate  of  lime  in  solution  with  the  sul- 
phate of  magnesia  was  separated  by  the  oxalate 
of  ammonia,  carefully  added,  the  solution  filtered, 
evaporated,  and  the  residual  salt  brought  to  a  red 
heat,  and  weighed  while  warm  exactly  17.5 
grains.  It  was  the  sulphate  of  magnesia,  equiva- 
lent to  12.25  grains  of  the  carbonate  of  magnesia, 
or  18.66  grains  of  the  bi-carbonate. 

To  determine  with  more  precision  the  actual 
quantity  of  iron,  one  gallon  of  the  water  was  evap- 
orated, and  the  insoluble  part  of  its  residiuum  ob- 
tained by  filtering,  dissolved  in  dilute  nitric  acid, 
and  boiled  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour  in  a  Flor- 
ence flask.  The  silix  which  remained  undissol- 
ved by  the  acid  in  the  flask  was  separated,  and. 
after  being  subjected  to  a  red  heat,  weighed  while 
warm  1.5  grains.  The  iron  was  then  precipita- 
ted by  the  addition  of  a  solution  of  pure  ammonia, 
as  before  described,  dried  at  a  red  heat,  and  then 
re-dissolved  in  dilute  nitric  acid,  to  free  it  from 
any  impurities  which  might  have  been  precipita- 
ted along  with  it  by  the  action  of  the  caustic  am- 
m.onia  in  the  first   operation.     It  was  again  pre- 


SOLID    CONTENTS.  113 

cipitated  in  the  same  way,  dried  at  a  red  heat  in 
a  platina  crucible,  and  weighed  while  warm  3.5 
grains.  It  was  the  red,  or  per-oxide  of  iron, 
equivalent  to  5.075  grains  of  the  carbonate  of 
iron. 


RECAPITULATION. 

From  the  foregoing  experiments  and  deductions, 
one  gallon,  or  231  cubic  inches,  of  the  water  of 
the  Congress  Spring  contains  the  following  sub- 
stances, viz. 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  (sea  salt)         385.0 
Ilydriodate  of  Soda,  3.5 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda,  8.982 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia,  95.788 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  98.098 

Carbonate  of  Iron,  5.075 

Sihx,  1.5 

Ilydro-bromatc  of  Potash,  a  trace  

597.9  43  grs. 
Carbonic  acid  gas,  311 

Atmospheric  air,  7 


Gaseous  contents,  318  cubic  inches. 

V\'atcr.  at  the  usual  temperature  and  pressure 
of  the  atmosphere,  can  only  dissolve  its  own  bulk 


114  COXGRESS    SPRrKG. 

of  carbonic  acid.  As  this  water  contains  near!}- 
one  third  more  than  that  quantity,  it  becomes. 
a  subject  of  some  interest  to  ascertain  by  what 
means  it  acquires  so  large  a  proportion  of  this 
gas. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  sub-carbonates  of  soda 
and  magnesia,  when  dissolved  in  water  saturated 
with  carbonic  acid,  receive  an  additional  portion 
of  the  acid,  and  become  bi-earbonates.  These 
bi-carbonates  are  how^ever  decomposed  by  the 
application  of  heat,  and  at  the  temperatui'e  of  boil- 
ing water,  or  212'^,  they  part  with  the  additional 
portion  of  the  acid,  and  become  again  sub-carbo- 
nates, in  which  state  these  salts  are  obtained  from 
the  water  after  boiling.  The  quantity  of  carbonic 
acid  given  off  in  this  way  by  the  bi-carbonates  of 
soda  and  magnesia  passing  into  sub-carbonates, 
will  account  very  satisfactorily  for  the  quantity 
obtained  from  the  water  over  and  above  its  bulk. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  quantity  of  carbon- 
ic acid  obtained  from  one  gallon  exceeds  its  bulk 
by  80  cubic  inches,  which,  allowing  100  cubic 
inches  to  weigh  4G.57  grains,  will  amoujit  to  37.25 
grains  ;  and  the  additional  portion  of  carbonic  acid 
taken  up  by  the  quantity  of  soda  and  magnesia 
found  in  the  water,  in  order  to  constitute  the  bi- 
carbonates,  will  amount  to  about  35.5  gz*ains.  a 


REMARKS.  115 

correspondence  sufficiently  accurate  to  justify  the 
position  here  taken. 

This  water  has  been  repeatedly  analyzed  by  a 
number  of"  professed  chemists  ;  but  the  results  of 
their  examinations  have  been  so  discordant  as  to 
aftbrd  but  little  confidence  in  their  correctness. 
These  results,  however,  do  not  differ  so  much  in 
the  variety  of  the  articles  produced,  as  in  the  quan- 
tities of  those  acknowledged  to  be  present.  Much 
of  this  dilTerence  may  be  imputed  to  the  various 
methods  adopted  to  separate  the  constituent  prop- 
erties, and  to  the  different  states  in  which  these 
properties  are  produced;  some  of  them  being  in 
a  state  of  crystallization  containing  a  large  por- 
tion of  water,  while  the  same  article  is  obtained 
under  ajiothcr  process  in  a  perfectly  dry  state, 
producing  an  essential  difference  in  the  apparent 
quantity.  But  the  greatest  cause  of  the  discord- 
ant results  is  the  transportation  of  the  water  from 
the  spring.  It  is  usually  bottled,  perhaps  imper- 
fectly corked,  transf)ortcd  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, and  then  sufl'ered  to  stand  m  a  quiescent 
state,  subjected  to  a  variety  of  temperature,  until 
the  conv(.'i)i(.nce  of  the  clu.'inist  affords  an  oportu- 
nity  fjrits  (;xaininati()n.  In  this  way  it  must  ne- 
cessarily |)art  with  a  lai'go  share  of  its  carbonic 
acid  and  the  substances  held  in  solution  by  it  are 
of  course    [)recipituled.     Ilence  no   iron,  or  but 


116  CONGRESS    SPRING. 

equivocal  traces  of  it,  are  obtained  from  the  wa- 
ter thus  procured  ;  while  at  the  fountain,  its  pres- 
ence is  clearly  demonstrated  by  the  most  simple 
experiments :  indeed,  the  mere  deposit  from  the 
water,  as  it  passes  from  the  spring,  affords  incon- 
testible  evidence  of  its  presence.  It  is  therefore 
abundantly  evident,  that  in  order  to  obtain  any 
thing  like  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  proper- 
ties and  proportions  of  the  various  salts  which  en- 
ter into  the  composition  of  this  water,  the  analysis 
should  be  conducted  on  the  spot. 

The  late  Professor  Dana  suggested  the  idea, 
that  some  of  the  substances  obtained  from  the 
water  by  analysis  might  be  the  product  of  the 
operation,  and  not  an  original  ingredient ;  and 
added,  that  "  carbonate  of  soda  and  muriate  of 
magnesia  might  exist  in  solution  together  in  this 
dilute  state,  without  their  mutual  affinities  being 
exerted  ;  but  when  the  solution  was  concentrated, 
carbonate  of  magnesia  and  muriate  of  soda  would 
be  formed ;"  and  he  therefore  inferred,  that  in- 
stead of  the  muriate  of  soda  and  carbonate  of  mag- 
nesia, as  procured  from  a  quantity  of  tliis  water, 
the  basis  of  these  two  salts  actually  existed  in  the 
water  in  the  state  of  the  muriate  of  magnesia  and 
carbonate  of  soda. 


fi£M\RKS.  117 

This  subject  has  been  subsequently  investigated 
by  Dr.  Murray.  He  alleges,  from  numerous  ex- 
periments, that  from  evaporating  the  solvent,  he 
procured  salts  different  from  those  known  to  be 
in  the  solution.  This  induced  him  to  call  in  ques- 
tion the  usual  modes  of  analysis ;  and  he  proposed 
another  method  of  determining  the  state  of  com- 
bination of  the  ingredients  obtained  from  mineral 
waters,  founded  upon  the  principle  that  the  force 
of  affinity  is  much  influenced  by  the  operation  of 
external  circumstances ;  and  that  when  these 
occur,  compounds  may  be  formed  different  from 
those  which  owe  their  origin  to  the  pure  force  of 
affinity.  Professor  Brando,  however,  of  the  royai 
institution  of  London,  will  not  admit  the  existence 
of  incompatible  salts  to  the  extent  which  Dr. 
Murray's  principle  requires. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  facts  do  not  wari'ant  the  be- 
lief that  the  operation  of  the  princ!j)ic,  if  establish- 
ed, is  exerted  in  the  formation  of  any  of  the  salts 
contained  in  this  water.  If  a  part  of  the  muriatic 
acid,  which  goes  to  form  the  muriate  of  soda  in 
the  concentrated  solution,  is  really  united  to  the 
magnesia  or  lime  while  in  a  more  dilute  state,  it 
follows  of  cours(!,  tiiat  the  (juantity  of  the  carbo- 
nate of  soda  at  the  same  time  mu^^^t  be  considera- 
bly incrcas(xl ;  but  this  docs  not  aj)pear  to  be  the 
fact.     The  application  of  appropriate  tests  to  the 


118  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

water  fresh  from  the  spring,  indicate  but  faintly 
the  presence  of  a  carbonated  alkali ;  but  as  the 
water  is  concentrated,  the  existence  of  this  article 
becomes  more  and  more  apparent ;  whereas,  di- 
rectly the  reverse  of  this  would  be  the  case,  if  the 
suggestion  of  Professor  Dana  was  correct.  It  is 
therefore  more  than  probable  that  the  substances 
obtained  are  actually  those  which  enter  into  the 
composition  of  the  water,  and  constitute  its  active 
medicinal  properties. 

MEDICAL  HISTORY. 

The  medicinal  qualities  of  this  spring  have  ac- 
quired for  it  a  reputation  abroad  to  which  no  oth- 
er fountain  in  the  United  States  has  yet  attained  ; 
and  it  is  highly  probable,  from  the  active  ingredi- 
ents which  enter  into  its  composition,  that  it  will 
continue  to  retain  an  ascendancy  which  has  been 
so  liberally  and  so  justly  conferred  upon  it.  Such 
are  its  rare  and  peculiar  properties,  that  while  it 
operates  as  an  active  and  efficient  medicine,  it 
possesses  the  properties  of  an  agreeable  and  de- 
lightful beverage  ;  and  it  is  daily  sought  after  and 
drank  by  all  classes  of  people,  for  no  other  pur- 
pose than  simply  to  gratify  the  palate  or  to  allay 
the  thirst.  And  although  in  this  way  it  is  fre- 
quently taken  in  sufficient  quantities  to  produce 
its  most  active  effects  upon  the  bowels,  it  is  sel- 


MEDICAL  HISTORY.  119 

dom,  if  ever,  known  to  be  attended  with  any  un- 
pleasant consequences, but  is  always  considered  by 
those  who  thus  use  it  as  invigorating  and  healthy. 

From  one  to  three  pints  of  the  water,  taken  in 
the  morning  before  eating,  usually  operates  freely 
as  a  catiiartic,  and  at  the  same  time  has  a  most 
powerful  effect  in  increasing  the  ordinary  secre- 
tions of  the  kidneys  ;  but  its  operation,  like  that  of 
all  other  medicines,  is  much  influenced  by  the 
condition  of  the  stomach  and  bowels  at  the  time 
of  receiving  it,  as  well  as  by  the  state  of  the  sys- 
tem generally.  It  therefore  frequently  happens 
that  a  nuich  larger  quantity  seems  to  be  required, 
in  order  to  produce  its  characteristic  effect  upon 
the  bowels  ;  and  invalids  have  been  known  to 
drink  twenty,  thirty  and  even  forty  tumblers  full 
of  it  in  a  morning  witliout  much  apparent  incon- 
venience. It  requires,  however,  but  a  slight  ac- 
fiuaintance  with  the  properties  of  tiic  water,  to 
satisfy  any  rational  mind,  that  such  a  procedure  is 
highly  improper  and  even  dangerous.  Quantities 
so  immoderate  can  never  be  usefid  to  persons 
who  are  eitlipr  infirm  or  in  health  ;  and  there  are 
numerous  instanrcs  in  which  tlu;y  have  produced 
conseciuences  of  a  very  alarming  character. 

It  is  a  catiiartic.  possessing  evidently  interesting 
and  important  qualities,  and  as  such  it  is  recom- 


120  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

mended  and  used  in  all  those  chronic  diseases 
where  cathartics  and  gentle  aperients  are  indica- 
ted ;  and  such  are  its  peculiar  effects,  when  judi- 
ciously administered,  that  it  may  be  persevered  in 
for  almost  any  length  of  time,  and  a  daily  increas- 
ed evacuation  from  the  bowels  produced  without 
debilitating  the  alimentary  canal,  or  in  any  way 
impairing  the  digestive  powers  of  the  stomach  ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  the  spirits,  appetite  and  gen- 
eral health  will  be  improved  and  invigorated. 

It  is  obvious  that  the  mode  and  management  of 
taking  the  water  must  depend  altogether  upon  the 
nature  of  the  case  for  which  it  is  administered, 
and  the  consequent  kind  of  effect  desired  to  be 
produced  from  it.  As  it  is  directed  simply  for 
its  cathartic  or  aperient  properties,  it  is  in  almost 
all  cases  important  that  its  operation  should  be 
speedily  and  promptly  effected.  The  quantity  re- 
quired to  produce  the  effect  desired  must  be  varied 
with  different  persons ;  and  even  the  same  per- 
sons at  different  times,  and  under  different  cir- 
cumstances, will  require  different  portions.  It  is 
therefore  impossible  to  fix  upon  any  certain  quan- 
tity that  will  apply  in  all  cases  :  much  must  be 
left  to  the  judgment  and  discretion  of  the  invalid 
himself.  In  ordinary  cases,  tlirce  pints  taken  on 
an  empty  stomach,  an  hour  or  two  before  eating, 
and  followed  by  a  proper  share  of  exercise,  will 


MEDICAL  HISTORY.  121 

be  found  amply  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  re- 
quired. Should  this  quantity  however  be  found 
inadequate  to  the  effect,  it  will  be  better  to  relin- 
quish the  use  of  it  altogether  for  the  day,  than  to 
attempt  to  produce  a  different  result  by  additional 
potations  of  the  water.  On  the  following  morn- 
ing the  quantity  may  be  increased  to  another 
pint  ;  and  should  there  be  fears  of  the  inadequacy 
of  this  quantity  from  extreme  constipation  of  the 
bowels  or  other  causes,  a  tea-spoonful  or  two  of 
epsom  salts  may  be  added  to  the  first  tumbler. 
This  will  insure  a  competent  operation,  and  the 
invalid  will  soon  be  enabled  by  his  experience  to 
determine  the  quantity  which  his  case  requires. 

In  cases  where  the  stomach  and  bowels  have 
been  for  a  long  time  subjected  to  the  effect  of 
morbid  excitement,  and  the  whole  system  ener- 
vated by  the  deranged  functions  of  the  assimilat- 
ing organs,  the  quantity  here  recommended  will 
be  altogether  inadmissible.  The  effects  of  disten- 
tion, and  the  abstraction  of  temperature  conse- 
quent upon  admitting  so  large  a  quantity  of  cold 
water  into  a  stomach  thus  enfeebK-d,  can  scarcely 
lail  of  being  highly  detrimental.  Reliance  there- 
fore must  not  be  placed  upon  the  water  in  these 
i-ases,  to  move  the  bowels  ;  it  can  only  be  used  as 
an  auxiliary  to  that  purpose,  and  should  always 
be  associated  with  some  other  cathartic  medicine 
I. 


122  CONGRESS  SPRING. 

suited  to.  the  particular  case.  A  little  magnesia, 
magnesia  and  rhubarb  or  a  laxative  pill  may  be 
taken  over  night,  and  a  tea-spoon  or  two  of 
the  sulphate  of  potass  or  magnesia,  combined  with 
a  glass  or  two  of  the  water  in  the  morning,  is 
usually  advised. 

The  proper  time  for  drinking  the  water  of  this 
spring  is  unquestionably  in  the  morning — an  hour 
or  two  before  breakfast ;  indeed,  as  a  general 
rule  it  should  not  be  meddled  with  at  any  other 
period  of  the  day ;  and  it  would  be  much  better 
for  those  whose  complaints  rendei  them  fit  sub- 
jects for  its  administration,  if  the  fountain  should 
be  locked  up  and  no  one  suffered  to  apj)roach  it 
after  the  hour  of  nine  or  ten  in  the  morning. 

Nothing  can  be  more  absurd  than  the  ridicu- 
lous practice  of  taking  large  potations  of  this  water 
at  all  hours  of  the  day,  and  particularly,  immedi- 
ately after  meals.  Tiie  impropriety  of  evacu- 
ating the  contents  of  tlie  stomach  and  bowels  be- 
fore the  assimilating  powers  of  digestion  have 
accomplished  their  labors,  must  be  obvious  to 
every  one.  It  should  therefore  only  be  taken  in 
the  morning  before  eating,  when  its  operation 
will  be  exerted  in  removing  the  fetid  remnants  of 
an  impaired  digestion,  and  evacuating  the  sordid 
and  irritating  accumulations  induced  by  an  en- 


MEDICAL  mSTORY.  123 

feebled  state  of  the  intestinal  canal.  When  this 
effect  is  produced,  the  water  has  accomplished  all 
that  can  reasonably  be  expected  from  its  use ; 
and  the  digestive  organs  being  freed  from  their 
offensive  feculent  burthen,  are  left  in  a  condition 
to  act  with  better  effect  on  the  subsequent  ali- 
ment which  may  be  presented  to  them. 

The  invalid,  whose  health  and  strength  will 
admit  of  it,  should  always  rise  as  early  as  six 
o'clock  at  farthest,  and  when  tlie  weather  is  suit- 
able, repair  to  the  spring,  and  take  the  water  at 
the  fountain  head.  The  exercise  necessarily 
connected  with  this  mode  of  drinking  the  water, 
together  with  the  invigorating  effect  of  a  whole- 
some atmosphere  and  amusing  company,  add 
much  to  its  efficacy  as  a  medicine. 

The  manner  of  drinking  the  water  at  the  foun- 
tain requires  but  little  attention.  It  is  dipped 
from  the  spring  in  half  pint  tumblers,  one  of 
\vhich  constitutes  a  very  suitable  quantity  for  a 
single  draught.  As  it  is  intended  to  move  the 
bowels,  it  is  necessary  that  these  draughts  should 
be  repeated  in  as  quick  succession  as  the  condi- 
tion of  the  stomach  will  permit.  As  soon  as  the 
Bcnsc  of  fulness  occasioned  by  the  first  tumbler 
has  passed  off,  another  may  be  taken,  and  so  on 
until  the  quantity  necessary  to  move  the  boweljj 


i2t  CONGRESS  SPRmC. 

has  all  been  drank.  This  is  usually  accomplisli- 
ed  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour,  without  materi- 
ally disturbing  the  tranquility  of  the  stomach, 
and  its  effect  is  seldom  delayed  beyond  the  limits 
of  an  hour.  Should  this  be  the  case,  however,, 
and  no  operation  effected  before  the  period  of 
breakfast  arrives,  a  cup  of  coffee  or  tea,  connect- 
ed with  a  light  repast  and  suitable  exercise,  wil^ 
seldom  fail  of  producing  a  speedy  termination  to 
the  delay. 

The  low  temperature  of  the  water,  in  some 
cases,  forms  a  serious  objection  to  its  being  drank 
to  the  extent  that  is  required.  This  may  be  rem- 
edied in  some  measure  by  securing  the  water  in 
well  corked  bottles,  and  suffering  them  to  stand 
in  the  room  over  night.  In  this  situation  the 
temperature  of  the  water  is  elevated  to  that  of 
the  atmosphere  of  the  room,  and  may  be  drank 
with  less  danger  of  producing  chills.  When 
these  do  succeed,  after  the  above  precaution,  re- 
course is  sometimes  had  to  plunging  the  bottle 
into  warm  water  a  few  times  before  removing 
the  cork.  This  will  unquestionably  remedy  the 
evil ;  but  the  water  will  be  more  apt  to  produce 
nausea  and  other  unpleasant  disturbances  of  the 
stomach,  not  less  injurious  to  the  good  effect  to. 
be  expected  from  its  use  than  that  of  cliills... 


^        MEDICAL  HISTOKY.  125 

It  should  always  be  remembered,. that  by  ele- 
vating the  temperature  of  the  water  to  any  ex- 
tent, the  escape  of  its  carbonic  acid  becomes 
abundant,  and  it  is  thereby  deprived  of  one  of  its 
most  important  ingredients,  the  loss  of  which 
renders  it  extremely  insipid,  and  its  cflocts  are 
by  no  means  so  pleasant  or  useful. 

The  properly  of  this  fountain  has,  within  a 
few  years,  passed  into  the  hands  of  Doct.  John 
Clarke,  who  is  now  the  sole  proprietor  and  own- 
er of  it.  This  gentleman  has  made  it  an  object 
of  his  special  care  and  attention,  and  it  is  to  his 
liberality  that  the  public  are  indebted  for  the 
convenient  and  cleanly  manner  in  v^'hich  the  wa- 
ter is  presented  to  them  at  the  well,  and  for  the 
improvements  that  have  been  made  and  are  still 
making  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  lie  is  likewise 
entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  care  and  attention 
Nvhich  he  bestows  in  putting  up  the  water  and 
preparing  it  for  transportation.  lie  is  now  the 
only  person  through  whom  it  can  be  procurcci  ;* 
and  such  has  been  the  success  of  his  exertions, 
and  the  public  estimation  of  its  value,  that  it  has 


♦  Dr.  Cbr';c  has  reserved  to  himself  the  exclusive  right  of 
bottl.i?  aiul  vciidini^  the  v\;itcr,  nnd  the  [luhlic  may  rely  up- 
on rccf  ivi:ijT  it  fiom  him  in  as  pcfftct  u  state  Pa  it  ij  capable  of 
retairu;)!'  wlieri  bof.kcl. 


126  CONGRESS  SPRING..        , 

been  introduced  into  almost  every  part  of  the 
world.  There  is  scarcely  a  town  in  the  United 
States  of  any  magnitude  that  is  not  supplied  with 
it,  nor  a  vessel  destined  to  any  distant  port  that 
does  not  enumerate  the  Congress  loater  in  the 
list  of  her  sea  stores  or  her  freight. 

The  water  loses  much  of  its  pungency  and 
agreeable  flavor  from  being  bottled,  and  its  iron 
is  entirely  deposited.  It  however  retains  its 
aperient  properties  in  tolerable  perfection,  and  if 
properly  secured  and  kept  in  a  quiescent  state 
and  even  temperature,  may  be  preserved  to  any 
length  of  time. 

The  practice  of  putting  the  water  into  wooden 
casks,  earthen  jugs,  or  tin  canisters,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  transportation,  as  is  sometimes  done,  is 
but  little  better  than  placing  it  in  open  vessels. 
It  soon  loses  its  vivifying  gas,  and  becomes  ex- 
tremely insipid  and  offensive.  It  can  only  be 
properly  secured  and  preserved  in  strong  glass 
bottles,  Vv'ell  corked,  and  the  corks  fastened  by 
wiring. 

From  the  known  and  acknowledged  efficacy 
of  the  water  as  a  medicine,  it  was  inferred  that 
its  saline  deposits  might  answer  a  valuable  pur- 
pose in  cases  where  the  water  could  not  be  pro- 


MEDICAL  HISTORY.  127 

cured,  and  at  one  time  considerable  quantities 
were  manufactured  for  sale,  by  evaporation  ;  but 
the  imperfect  solubility  of  these  salts  renders 
them  not  only  disagreeable,  but  frequently  irri- 
tating and  offensive  to  the  stomach,  and  the  pres- 
ent proprietor  of  the  spring  has  very  properly 
prohibited  their  further  manufacture. 

Influenced  by  the  popular  character  of  the 
water,  individuals  have  been  induced  to  attempt 
an  artificial  composition  of  it,  and,  under  the  im- 
posing names  of  "  Congress  Water"  and  "  Sara- 
toga Powders,"  articles  have  been  presented  to 
the  public  which,  although  they  possess  aperient 
qualities,  m  reality  bear  no  resemblance,  either  in 
their  effects  or  their  properties,  to  the  mineral 
water,  the  name  of  which  they  have  assumed. 
They  may  move  the  bowels,  it  is  true,  but  in  this 
they  do  not  appear  to  possess  any  superiority 
over  the  common  Scidlitz  powder,  which  is  now 
in  every  body's  hands,  and  which,  as  a  laxative 
medicine,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  is  undoubtedly  to 
be  preferred. 


COLUMBIAiV  SPRING. 


This  fountain  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
the  brook,  about  eight  rods  directly  southwest 
from  the  Congress. .  It  discovers  itself  at  the  foot 
of  a  steep  bank,  consisting  of  loose  sand  and 
yellow  loam. 

The  water  being  confined  by  a  wooden  curb, 
rises  a  few  inches  above  the  surface  of  the  sur- 
rounding earth,  and  escapes  through  a  small  hole 
in  the  side  of  the  curb,  made  for  the  purpose. 

The  well  is  sunk  in  the  earth  about  six  feet,  and 
such  is  the  supply  of  water,  that  it  is  difficult  to 
remove  it  as  fast  as  it  accumulates,  even  with  a 
bucket. 

The  surface  of  the  water,  when  viewed  in  the 
fountain,  does  not  present  the  simmering  appear- 
ance so  conspicuous  in  the  Congress  ;  but  the 
gas  breaks  up  through  it  in  much  larger  bubbles, 
at  irregular  intervals,  giving  to  the  water  the  re- 
semblance of  a  more  violent  ebulition. 

The  surface  of  tbe  earth  over  which  the  water 
escapes,  and  the  inside  of  the  troughs  which  con- 


COLUMBIAJ<  SPRIXO,  120 

duct  it  away,  as  well  as  the  inside  of  the  curb, 
arc  covered  with  a  thick  ferruginous  crust  of  a 
deep  brown  color. 

ITic  water  itself  is  quite  limpid,  and  when 
drank,  betrays  a  strong  chalybeate  taste,  and  a 
pungency  indicative  of  the  presence  of  a  large 
portion  of  carbonic  acid.  In  its  physical  prop- 
erties generally,  tbis  water  resembles  the  Con- 
gress in  all  respects,  excepting  its  saline  inipreg- 
natiop,  which  is  evidently  much  less. 

Its  temperature  at  the  bottom  of  tlic  well  U 
uniformly  at  50  deg.,  and  its  specific  gravity  at 
the  temperature  of  GO  deg.  The  barometer, 
standing  at  29. .3  inches,  is  1007.3,  pure  water  be- 
ing 1000. 

The  application  of  chemical  tests  to  the  water 
of  this  fountain  indicates  nothin";  to  distinfruish  it 
from  tliat  of  the  Congress,  the  same  ingredients 
being  dearly  distinguished  in  both.  They  diflbr, 
however,  in  tlic  quantities  of  the  articles  which 
they  resj)ectively  hold  in  solution,  as  is  shown  by 
the  s[)ecific  gravity  of  tiie  two,  as  well  as  by  the 
greater  or  less  eflect  produce-d  by  the  application 
of  re-agents.  Indeed,  in  this  respect  there  is  a 
very  perceptible  diflcrence  indicated  i)y  the  taste 
alone. 


130  COLIMBIAN  SPRIWO. 

By  pursuing  a  process  similar  to  that  related  in 
tlie  analj'sis  of  the  Congress  water,  one  gallon^  or 
231  cubic  inches  of  this  water,  yielded  the  fol- 
lowing ingredients,  viz. 


Chloride  of  Sodium, 

2G7. 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda, 

15.4 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia, 

46.71 

Ilydrodate  of  Soda, 

2.50 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

08. 

Carbonate  of  Iron, 

5.58 

Silix, 

2.05 

llydro-bromate  of  Potash, 

scarcc- 

ly  a  trace. 
Solid  contents  in  a  gallon. 

407.3  gr. 

Carbonic  acid  gas, 

272.00 

Atmospheric  air, 

4.5 

Gaseous  contents  in  a  gallon,       270.50  inch. 

This  spring  has  been  materially  improved,  by 
clearing  out  the  well  and  securing  it  against  the 
iiifrusion  of  fresh  water,  by  means  of  a  tight  curb 
inserted  to  its  bottom. 

The  water  seldom  oj^cratcs  as  a  cathartic,  un- 
less when  taken  in  large  quantities,  or  used  by 
persons  whose  stomachs  are  extremely  irritable, 


WASHINGTON  SPRING.  131 

Its  most  obvious  effects,  when  taken  in  proper 
doses,  are  diuretic,  at  the  same  time  operating  on 
the  secretions  and  excretions  generally.  It  like- 
wise manifests  the  powers  of  a  mild  and  pleasant 
stimulant ;  and  from  the  large  proportion  of  iron 
which  enters  into  its  composition,  it  occupies  a 
distinguished  rank  among  the  tonic  waters  which 
the  place  affords. 


MM*iiIi:VGTOX   SPROG. 

PuusnxG  a  southwest  direction  from  the  Co- 
lumbian Spring  about  fifty  rods,  wc  come  to  the 
^Vasliiiigton  Si)ring,  situated  by  the  side  of  a  rill 
of  very  pure  water,  which  has  its  origin  from  the 
!)anks  of  sand  at  no  great  distance.  The  foun- 
tain is  situated  on  ground  considerably  elevated 
abuve  any  of  the  others.  It  makes  i;s  aj)pear- 
anfi;  at  the  surface  through  a  bed  of  argillaceous 
marl  of  a  deep  blue  color.  The  wal  r,  neverthe- 
less, is  rcniark;ibly  liiiij)id,  and  has  been  recently 
much  improved,  in  all  its  sensible  properties,  by 
sinking  the  well  to  a  much  greater  de])th,  anil 
securii  g  it  by  a  tight  wooden  curb. 

It  is  a  sparkling  acidulous  water.  Its  temper- 
ature is  50  deg.  and  its  specilic  gravity,  at  the 


132  WASHINGTON  SPRING. 

temperature  of  60  deg.  under  the  ordinary  pres- 
sure of  the  atmosphere,  is  1007.8,  and  one  gallon 
of  it  affords  the  following  articles,  viz. 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  grs.  281.5 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda,  16.5 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia,  40.92 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  92.6 

Carbonate  of  Iron,  3.25 

Silix,  1.5 

Hydriodate  of  Soda,  2.75 


Solid  contents  in  a  gallon,  grs.  439.02 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  262.5 

Atmospheric  air,  6.8 


Gaseous  contents  in  a  gallon,       269.3  inch. 

This  fountain  was  resorted  to  formerly,  on  ac- 
count of  its  retired  situation,  (it  being  then  in  a 
forest,)  for  the  purpose  of  bathing  ulcerated  limbs 
and  eruptive  diseases  of  the  body,  for  the  cure  of 
which  it  became  quite  distinguished.  From  this 
hint  a  large  and  commodious  bath-house  has 
been  erected  close  to  the  spring,  called  the 
Washington  Bath,  which  is  supplied  with  mineral 
water  from  this  spring.  It  has  likewise  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  very  pure  stream  of  fresh  water 


WASmNGTON  SPKLNG.  133 

"which  passes  immediately  under  the  building,  for 
the  purpose  or  ordinary  bathing. 

Near  to  this  spring  there  has  been  erected  a 
small  fish-pond,  which  is  abundantly  supplied 
with  pure  water  from  the  neighboring  sand  banks. 
With  this  pond  is  enclosed  about  an  acre  of 
ground,  a  part  of  which  is  tastefully  laid  out  into 
walks  ;  and  on  the  margin  of  the  little  pool  is  es- 
tablished a  bowling  alley  and  billiard  table,  the 
w^hole  of  which  is  screened  and  shaded  by  the 
native  pine  and  other  forest  trees,  forming  a  very 
pleasant  and  quiet  spot  for  retirement  or  recrea- 
tion. 

This  foimtain,  together  with  the  Columbian, 
constitute  all  the  mineral  waters  that  have  come 
into  notice  in  this  direction  from  the  Congress. 
All  the  other  fountains  at  this  place  are  situated 
along  the  course  of  the  valley,  in  a  north-east 
direction. 


M 


HAITIIIiTON  SPRING. 


This  spring  is  situated  in  the  low  ground  about 
30  rods  from  the  Congress,  in  a  north-east  direc- 
tion, immediately  in  tlie  rear  of  Congress  Hall. 
It  was  discovered  and  named  after  the  late  Ge- 
neral Hamilton  by  Mr.  Gideon  Putnam,  one  of  the  , 
early  settlers  of  the  place,  not  long  after  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Congress  Spring.  It  was  cleared 
out  to  the  depth  of  only  a  few  feet,  and  the  water 
secured  by  a  small  wooden  curb.  In  this  situa- 
tion it  remained  for  a  number  of  years,  its  waters 
being  devoted  mostly  to  the  supply  of  a  bathing 
establishment  erected  in  its  immediate  vicinity. 
After  the  decease  of  Mr.' Putnam,  the  property 
passed  into  other  hands,  and  the  well  has  since 
been  sunk  to  a  much  greater  depth,  and  more 
effectually  secured  against  the  intrusion  of  foreign 
substances,  by  which  means  the  water  has  been 
materially  improved. 

The  surface  of  the  water  within  the  curb  is  con- 
stantly agitated  by  the  escape  of  large  quantities 


HAMILTON    SPREVG.  135 

of  gas ;  and  as  the  water  passes  off,  it  leaves  on 
the  surface  of  the  earth  an  abundant  deposit  of  a 
brownish  colour,  evidently  ferruginous  and  calca- 
reous. 

The  water,  when  first  taken  from  the  spring,  is 
remarkably  clear  and  sparkling ;  but,  on  standing 
exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  soon  becomes  turbid. 
It  is  saline  and  acidulous  to  the  taste,  and  when 
taken  to  the  quantity  of  five  or  six  half  pints,  is 
usually  cathartic  and  diuretic. 

The  temperature  of  the  bottom  of  the  well  is 
uniformly  at  50  deg.  and  its  specific  gravity  at  the 
temperature  of  60  deg.  and  under  a  pressure  of 
the  atmosphere,  indicated  by  the  mercuiy  in  the 
barometer  standing  at  thii'ty  inches,  is  1008.5, 
pure  water  being  1000. 

The  indications  affci^ded  by  the  application  of 
tests  correspond  with  those  already  noticed  in  the 
examination  of  the  Congress  water  ;  and  by  pur- 
suing a  process  similar  to  that  adopted  in  the  analy- 
sis of  that  water,  the  following  ingredients  were 
obtained  from  one  gallon,  viz. 

grs. 
Chloride  of  Sodium,  297.3 

Ilvdriodate  of  Soda,  3. 


136  HAMILTON    SPRING. 

Bi-carbon?ite  of  Soda,  27.036 

.  Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia,  35.2 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  92.4 

Carbonate  of  Iron,  "      5.39 
Hydro-bromate  of  Potash,  a 

trace.  


Solid  contents  in  one  gallon,  4G0.326  grs. 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  316 

Atmospheric  air,  4 

Gaseous  contents  in  a  gallon,  320  inches. 

This  water  ranks  first  among  the  springs  as  a 
diuretic,  and  it  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its 
good  effects  in  gi'avelly  and  calculous  affections. 
It  is  second  only  to  the  Congress  in  its  saline  im- 
pregnation, and  is  frequently  used  as  a  substitute 
for  the  water  of  the  latter  spring  in  all  those  ca- 
ses where  the  irritable  state  of  the  stomach  ren- 
ders the  more  drastic  cfiects  of  that  water  inad- 
missible. 

In  scrofula,  and  indeed  all  other  indolent  swel- 
lings of  the  glands,  the  water  of  this  spring,  to- 
gether with  that  of  the  Columbian,  will  unques- 
tionably take  the  preference ;  for.  although  they 
do  not  contain  quite  so  large  a  proportion  of  the 


HAMILTON   SPRING.  137 

iodine  as  is  found  in  the  Congress  water,  they 
contain  a  much  less  quantity  of  other  active  sa- 
line ingredients,  which  render  them  less  liafele  to 
affect  the  bowels,  and  their  effects  upon  the  sys- 
tem generally  are  thereby  rendered  more  cer- 
tain. 

It  is,  without  doubt,  owing  to  the  iodine  which 
these  waters  contain,  that  they  have  become  so 
famous  in  the  cure  of  strumous  affections  ;  and 
the  water  which  contains  the  greatest  abundance 
of  this  article,  and  is  least  encumbered  with  those 
substances  that  may  tend  to  retard  or  prevent  its 
effects  upon  the  system,  should  unquestionably 
be  directed  as  the  most  applicable  in  these  com- 
plaints. 

The  Hamilton  bath-house  is  erected  close  to 
this  spring,  and  is  supplied  by  it  with  water  for 
its  mineral  baths,  which  are  situated  in  secure 
and  well  furnished  apartments,  prepared  either 
for  shower  bathing  or  immersing  the  body  in  the 
water,  which  may  always,  during  the  season,  be 
procured  cither  warm  or  cold.  Fresh  water 
baths  arc  also  furnisiicd  here  for  those  who  pre- 
fer them,  and  which  should  always  be  preferred 
in  cases  where  the  bath  is  used   simply   as   a 


M* 


188  HAMILTON   SPRING. 

jsource  of  cleanliness.  The  rooms  are  sufficiently 
spacious  and  well  ventilated,  and  the  whole  es- 
tablishment is  cleanly  and  well  conducted.* 


*  About  twenty  rods  north  of  the  Hamilton,  is  the  PniXAM's 
Congress,  (deriving  its  name  from  the  discoverer  and  owner.) 
A  mineral  spring  flowed  from  the  same  locality  for  several 
years,  but  without  attracting  any  particular  notice ;  and  the 
present  spring  has  been  obtained  by  sinking  a  tube  to  a  con- 
siderable depth.  It  is  a  valuable  fountain,  and  held  in  high  re- 
pute  by  many  who  have  experienced  the  benign  effects  of  its 
healing  properties.  Had  the  life  of  Doct.  Steel,  the  author  of 
this  volume,  been  prolonged,  the  spring  in  question  would  un- 
doubtedly have  been  analyzed  and  a  description  of  its  medical 
properties  given.  But  his  death  has  not  only  deprived  the  public 
of  this,  but  also  of  a  publication  of  other  useful  matter  connected 
with  a  history  of  the  Springs  and  their  uses  as  a  medicine.  With- 
out  pretending,  therefore,  to  give  even  a  sketch  of  the  ingredi- 
entsofthis  fountain,  which  are  doubtless  similar  to  those  of 
the  other  springs  in  its  vicinity,  we  will  merely  remark  that 
it  is  probably  second  only  to  the  old  Congress  in  its  medical 
qualities.  There  is  also  connected  with  it  a  first  rate  bathing 
establishment.  Publhhir. 


FtAT  ROCK  SPRI.TO. 


FoLLo\\TNG  the  course  of  the  valley  in  a  north- 
east direction  from  the  Hamilton,  about  eigh- 
ty rods,  we  come  to  the  Flat  Rock  Spring.  It 
is  situated  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  Pavilion,  on 
the  verge  of  the  marsh,  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  bank 
which  terminates  the  west  side  of  the  valley, 
through  which  a  small  brook  passes.  This  bank 
is  composed  of  argillaceous  earth  and  sand,  and 
is  elevated  about  forty  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
brook. 

The  earth  for  ^ome  rods  around  this  spring  was 
formerly  encrusted  by  a  thick  bed  of  calcarcoies 
tufa,  which  long  exposure  to  the  air  had  harden- 
ed into  a  pretty  solid  rock  ;  and  from  this  circum- 
stance the  spring  received  its  name.  This  rock 
was  neither  more  nor  less  than  the  usual  sedi- 
ment deposited  by  the  water,  combined  with  sand, 
leaves,  sticks,  &c.  for  which  it  was  indebted  to 
the  wind  and  rain ;  and  is  no  more  than  what 
happens  about  any  of  tlie  fountains  where  the 
water  does  not  find  a  ready  egress,  or  is  suflcrcd 
to  stagnate  in  their  immediate  vicinity.  The  pro- 
gress of  improvement  has,  however,  at  this  time 
nearly  obliterated  this  natural  platform,  and  the 


140  FLAT    ROCK   SPRING. 

spot  is  now  occupied  by  a  tasteful  little  Chinese 
temple. 

The  well  has  been  sunk  to  the  depth  of  about 
fifteen  feet,  and  a  square  tube  made  of  plank  in- 
serted to  its  bottom.  Through  this  the  water  ri- 
ses to  the  surface  of  the  earth  and  runs  off  in  a 
small  stream,  depositing  a  copious  sediment  of  a 
dark  brown  colour,  along  the  whole  extent  of  its 
course  to  the  brook,  which  passes  some  rods  dis- 
tant. 

The  appearance  and  taste  of  this  water  very 
much  resemble  that  of  the  Columbian,  and  the 
analysis,  conducted  upon  the  same  principle,  con- 
firms the  similarity. 

Its  temperature  is  48  dcg.  and  its  specific  grav- 
ity at  the  temperature  of  CO  deg.  the  barometer 
standing  at  29.5  inches,  is  1006.9,  pure  water  be- 
ing 1000. 

One  gallon  afforded  tlie  following  articles,  viz. 

Chloride  of  Sodium,  148.866 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  60.573 

Bi-carbonate  of  ^Magnesia,  42.7 

Bi-carbonatc  of  ^oda.  20.79 


FLAT    ROCK   SPRING.  141 

Carbonate  of  Iron,  5.39 

Hydriodate  of  Soda,  1.33 

Ilydro-bromate  of  Potash  a  trace 
in  four  gallons. 

Silix  &  Aluniine  a  minute  quantity. 

Solid  contents  in  one  gallon,  279.G49  grs. 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  287,5  cub.  inch. 

Atmospheric  air,  G.5 


Gaseous  contents  in  a  gallon,  294.0  cub.  inch. 

This  water  is  used  in  all  cases  for  which  the 
Columbian  is  recommended.  It  has  generally 
been  considered  one  of  the  best  chalybeate  springs 
which  the  place  affords,  and  on  tliat  account  has 
been  the  most  frequented.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  there  are  cases  in  which  this  water  will  an- 
swer a  Ixitter  purpose  as  a  tonic  medicine  than 
the  Columbian,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  con- 
taining a  greater  quantity  of  carbonic  acid,  a  less 
quantity  of  the  saline  principle,  and  at  the  same 
time  containing  an  equal  portion  of  the  tonic  prop- 
erties.* 


*  A  few  rods  fartlicr  north  is  the  IVIon-rof.  Smixfi,  the  analy- 
sis of  which,  for  tlic  reason  a«=igiiLil  in  the  note  at  |)a(:;c  13^, 
was  not  prtparf;<l  for  this  vohiiiK-.  It  in  a  valiiahlu  fountain, 
somewhat  sinnlar  in  its  character  to  the  Wasliington,  Ilainil- 


HIGH  BOCK  SPRING. 


Pursuing  the  course  of  the  valley  about  eigh- 
ty rods  further  in  a  northerly  direction,  we 
come  to  the  High  Rock  Spring ;  it  is  situated 
near  the  base  of  a  ledge  of  calcareous  rocks 
which  at  this  place  mark  the  westerly  side  of  the 
valley. 

The  rock  which  gives  the  name  to  this  spring, 
and  surrounds  and  encloses  the  fountain,  is  of  a 
conical  shape,  and  apparently  rests  on  the  surface 
of  the  marl,  or  is  but  slightly  connected  with  it. 
It  narrows  rapidly  as  it  rises  from  the  earth,  and 
terminates  in  a  rounded  top,  in  the  centre  of 
which  is  a  circular  opening,  w4iich  leads  to  the  in- 
terior cavity.  This  opening  gradually  widens  as 
the  rock  enlarges,  leaving  its  walls  nearly  of  an 
equal  thickness  throughout.  In  this  cavity  the 
water  rises  some  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
surrounding  earth,  and  is  there  seen  constantly 
agitated  by  the  incessant  escape  of  carbonic  acid 


ton,  Flat  Rock  and  High  Rock,  and  has  a  deserved  reputation 
for  its  medicinal  qualities.  Tiicro  is  also  connected  with  it  a 
commodious  and  cleanly  hathing  cstahlishment,  which  is  sup- 
plied by  this  fountain  with  mineral  water,  and  by  a  very  pure 
spring  from  an  adjoining  bank  with  fresh  water.    PucLisuEn. 


illOn   ROCK   SPRING.  143 

gas,  for  which  the  vacancy  above  the  water  forms 
a  capacious  and  secure  reservoir,  where  the  curi- 
ous may  at  any  time  make  the  experiment  of  its 
deleterious  eflects  on  animal  life. 

This  rock  very  justly  claims  a  conspicuous 
place  among  the  interesting  natural  curiosities 
which  our  countiy  affords.  The  venerable  Dr. 
Seaman  in  noticing  this  singular  production  ob- 
serves :  "  The  more  we  reflect  upon  it,  the  more 
we  must  be  convinced  of  the  important  place  this 
rock  ought  to  hold  among  the  wonderful  works  of 
nature.  Had  it  stood  upon  the  borders  of  the 
Logo  cV  Agnano,  the  noted  Grotto  del  Cani,  which 
burdens  almost  every  book  which  treats  upon  the 
carbonic  acid  gas,  since  the  peculiar  properties  of 
the  air  have  been  known,  would  never  have  been 
heard  of  beyond  the  environs  of  Naples,  while  this 
fountain,  in  its  place,  would  have  been  deservedly 
celebrated  in  story,  and  spread  upon  canvass,  to 
the  admiration  of  the  world,  as  one  of  its  greatest 
curiosities.'' 

The  following  dimensions  of  this  singular  pro- 
duction of  nature  were  taken  from  actual  meas- 
urement : 

Perpendicular  height,  four  feet. 
Circumference  at  the  base,  twenty-six  feet  eight 
inches. 


144  HIGH    ROCK   SPRING. 

Length  of  a  line  dz-awn  over  the  top,  from  north 
to  south,  eleven  feet  seven  inches. 

Length  of  the  same  from  east  to  west,  ten  feet 
nine  inches. 

From  the  top  of  the  rock  to  the  surface  of  the 
water,  ordinarily,  two  feet  four  inches. 

Depth  of  water  in  the  cavity  of  the  rock,  usu- 
ally, seven  feet  eight  inches. 

The  opening  at  the  top  is  nearly  circular,  and 
measures  ten  inches  across. 

This  rock  belongs  to  that  species  of  limestone 
termed  calcareous  tufa,  being  evidently  the  pro 
duct  of  the  water.  It  is  composed  of  the  carbo- 
nate of  lime,  magnesia,  and  the  oxide  of  iron,  to- 
gether with  a  proportion  of  sand  and  clay.  It 
likewise  exhibits,  when  broken,  the  impressions  of 
leaves  and  twigs  of  trees.  It  is  somewhat  undu- 
lated on  its  surface,  and  about  the  top  compact 
and  indurated,  while  near  its  base  it  is  of  a  more 
spongy  and  friable  character,  but  every  where 
sufficiently  compact  to  render  it  impervious  to 
water. 

That  the  water  at  some  former  period  issued 
from  the  cavity  and  descended  upon  the  sides  of 
the  rock,  will  scarcely  admit  of  a  doubt ;  but  the 
precise  manner  in  which  the  rock  was  formed,  or 
the  time  when  the  water  used  to  flow  upon  its 


HIGH   HOCK   SPIliNG.  H5 

sm-face,  is  not  quite  so  obvious.  The  most  prob- 
able conjecture  is,  that  the  basis  of  this  mass  was 
commenced  beneath  the  surface  of  tlie  earth ;  that 
the  water,  thus  confmed  within  the  limits  of  its 
own  sediment,  continued  to  rise,  and  as  it  escaped 
over  the  sides  of  its  prison,  constantly  added  to 
tlie  dimensions  of  its  walls.  In  this  manner  it 
would  continue  to  rise  until  the  column  of  water 
in  the  rock  balanced  the  power  that  forced  it  up, 
in  v.hich  case  it  would  become  stationary  ;  and  it 
i.1  but  just  to  infer,  that  in  process  of  time,  the  pow- 
er so  propelling  the  water  might  be  diminished  in 
its  force,  when  the  v.ater  in  the  spring  wov-Id  of 
course  sink  in  exact  proportion  to  the  loss  of  tiiat 
power. 

There  was  an  opini-'n  prevailing  amcng  the  ear- 
ly settlers,  that  the  rjc';  had  been  fractured  'jy 
the  fall  of  a  tree,  and  to  lliis  accident  they  in^pu- 
ted  the  failure  of  the  water  to  run  over  its  top, 
I.>eheving  that  it  escaped  through  a  fissure,  which, 
although  invisible,  they  still  imagined  must  exist. 
Tliis  conjecture,  hov/cver,  docs  not  appear  to 
have  been  well  founded.  The  spring  was  visited 
as  early  as  17()7,  and  no  appearance  to  justify 
such  an  opinion  then  presented  itself,  although  the 
water  did  not  at  that  time  reach  the  top  of  the 
rock  by  several  inches. 


146  HIGH    ROCK    SPRING. 

•  Loran  Tarbel,  an  aged  chief  of  the  St.  Regis 
tribe  of  Indians,  told  the  present  Chancellor  Wal- 
worth, that  he  visited  this  spring  while  a  boy ; 
and  that  he  was  told  by  the  Indians  that  the  wa- 
ter once  ran  over  the  top,  buj,  owing,  as  they 
supposed,  to  some  of  their  women  bathing  in  it 
when  they  ought  not  to  have  done  so,  the  water 
sunk  back  into  the  rock  and  never  showed  itself 
again  at  the  top. 

The  conspicuous  appearance  which  this  rock 
makes,  must  have  introduced  it  to  the  notice  of 
the  natives  at  a  veiy  early  period  ;  and  although 
it  was  probably  known  and  visited  by  individuals 
whose  business  called  them  to  the  woods,  it  does 
not  appear  to  have  attracted  much  attention  from 
the  white  population  of  the  country  until  about 
the  year  1767,  when  it  was  first  visited  by  Sir 
William  Johnson.  From  this  period,  "  the  spring" 
came  more  rapidly  into  notice,  and  for  some  years 
this  was  the  only  one  to  which  much  consequence 
was  attached. 

The  extravagant  stories  told  by  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  astonishing  effects  of  this  water  in  the 
cure  of  almost  every  species  of  disease,  are  still 
remembered  and  repeated  by  their  too  credulous 
descendants.  This,  in  conjunction  with  the  sin- 
gular and  mysterious  character  of  the  rock,  con- 


HIGH    ROCK   SPRING.  147 

tinue  to  attach  an  importance  to  the  waters,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  vulgar,  at  which  no  other  fountain 
will  ever  arrive. 

The  temperature  at  the  bottom  of  the  well  is 
48  deg.,  and  its  specific  gravity  at  an  atmospheric 
pressure,  indicated  by  the  barometer  standing  at 
29.5  inches,  is  1000,85,  pure  water  being  1000. 

One  gallon  of  the  water  afforded  the  following 
ingredients,  viz. 


Chloride  of  Sodium, 

189.10 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia, 

61.592 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda, 

17.538 

Hydriodatc  of  Soda, 

2.5 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

69.29 

Carbonate  of  Iron, 

5.58 

Silix  and  Alumine,  a  small  quantity, 

Ilydro-bromatc  of  Potash,  a  trace  in 

four  gallons  of  the  water. 
Solid  contents  in  a  gallon. 

345.68  grs, 

Carbonic  acid  gas,  304 

Atmospheric  air,  5 


Oaseous  contents  in  a  gallon,       309  cub.  inch. 


148  UIGn    ROCK    SPRING. 

Since  the  discovciy  of  the  Congress  Spring 
and  the  extensive  improvements  that  have  been 
made  in  that  vicinity,  the  water  of  this  fountain, 
as  well  as  that  of  several  others  situated  in  its 
immediate  neighborhood,  have  rather  sunk  into 
disuse,  and  the  old  village,  as  this  part  of  the 
town  is  now  termed,  evidently  discovers  a  cor- 
respondent desertion  ;  but  whatever  may  be  the 
destiny  of  the  place  or  the  credit  of  the  water, 
no  means  should  be  spared  to  protect  and  secure 
the  rock.  It  has  alread}^  suffered  considerably 
from  the  depredations  of  unprincipled  specimen 
gatherers,  and  it  will  be  finally  ruined,  unless 
some  more  effectual  method  be-  adopted  to  pre- 
vent it. 


PRESIDEIVT  SPRUVO. 


About  thirty  rods,  in  a  northeastern  direction 
from  the  High  Rock,  in  the  same  valley,  is  situa- 
ted the  President  Spring.  The  earth  was  re- 
moved to  the  depth  of  about  four  feet,  when  the 
spring  was  discovered  bubbling  up  through  the 
fissures  in  a  stratum  of  lime  rock,  furnishing  an 
ample  supply  of  water  in  the  wooden  curb  which 
was  designed  to  protect  and  secure  it.  Within  a 
few  years  this  spring,  like  most  of  the  others,  has 
undergone  considerable  improvement  by  being 
more  effectually  secured  against  the  intrusion  of 
fresh  water ;  since  which  period  the  temperature 
and  specific  gravity  have  become  the  same  as 
that  of  the  High  Rock,  and  the  analysis  affords 
the  same  results.  It  is  therefore  probable  that 
these  two  waters  have  their  origin  from  the  same 
source  ;  for  they  arc  indeed  the  same  water. 


RED  SPRIIfG. 


This  spring  is  situated  close  to  the  public  high- 
way, about  sixty  or  seventy  rods  in  a  northeast- 
ern direction  from  the  President.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  ferruginous  deposits  are  found  about  it, 
and  the  water,  when  agitated,  has  numerous  par- 
ticles of  fine  sand  stained  with  this  substance 
floating  about  in  it,  which  gives  the  water  a  red 
appearance,  from  which  circumstance  it  receives 
its  name. 

Popular  opinion  has  given  much  credit  to  the 
water  of  this  fountain  for  its  beneficial  effects 
when  applied  to  ill-conditioned  ulcers  and  affec- 
tions of  the  skin.  The  water,  however,  docs  not 
appear  to  possess  any  qualities  to  distinguish  it 
from  those  which  have  ah'eady  been  described. 
Its  saline  impregnation  is  much  less  than  any  of 
the  other  springs,  and  its  gaseous  contents  arc 
still  more  deficient  when  compai'ed  with  those  of 
the  other  fountains. 


TE3r  SPRINGS. 


Pursuing  the  course  of  the  same  valley,  about 
one  mile  from  tUc  High  Rock  in  aii  eastern  di- 
rection, ^Ve  come  to  the  Ten  Springs,  so  called 
from  the  circumstance  of  there  being  that  number 
located  near  together.  These  springs  were  dis- 
covered about  the  year  1814,  on  land  that  then 
belonged  to  jNIessrs.  John  and  Ziba  Taylor,  and 
considerable  pains  were  taken  at  the  time  to  bring 
them  into  notice.  Several  of  them  were  opened 
and  secured  by  placing  in  them  wooden  boxes  to 
keep  out  the  fresh  water,  and  a  small  batliing 
hoasc  was  erected  close  to  them.  They  never, 
however,  acfjiuircd  much  celebrity,  and  the  prop- 
erty having  [)asscd  into  otiicr  liands,  but  little  at- 
tention is  now  paid  to  them  ;  and  it  is  probable, 
from  their  proximity  to  those  so  distinguished, 
that  they  will  never  rise  into  much  consequence. 

These  springs  are  situated,  like  most  of  the  oth- 
ers tliat  iiavc  already  been  described,  in  a  soil 
composed  of  argillaceous  earth  and  sand,  com- 
bined with  the  usual  deposits,  (iron  and  lime  ;) 
and  they  likewise  contain  the  same  constituent 
properties,  ditlcring  only  in  the  (juantities  of  the 
articles  which  they  respectively  hold  in  solution. 


152  TEN    SPRINGS. 

Some  of  them  are  considerably  saline,  and  being 
saturated  with  cai'bonic  acid  gas,  they  constitute 
a  very  pleasant  beverage,  and  are  much  used  by 
those  w^ho  reside  near  by,  both  as  a  common  drink 
and  as  a  medicine. 


EI.I.IS'  SPUIXC. 


About  two  miles  from  the  Congress  spring,  in 
a  southwest  direction,  on  land  belonging  to  the 
heirs  of  the  late  Robert  Ellis,  is  another  mineral 
fouutain  wliicli  deserves  notice.  It  is  situated  at 
the  fool  and  on  tlie  westerly  side  of  a  high  em- 
bankment of  the  Saratoga  and  Schenectady  rail 
road,  thro'vn  across  a  ravine  through  which  Ellis' 
creek,  a  principal  branch  of  the  Kayaderosscras, 
passes,  at  a  deplh  of  about  50  feet  from  the  sur- 
face of  tlie  iurrounding  country.  The  side  of 
tliis  ravine  ha\ir.g  been  denuded  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  mil!.>,  furnisliesa  favorable  oppor- 
tunity for  inspecting  its  structure ;  the  arrange- 
ment of  which  is  as  follows  : 

A  mixture  of  clay  and  gravel,  2  feet. 

Coarse  gravel  and  sand,  with  a  great  vari- 
ety of  small  stones,  generally  smooth,       4 

At  the  bottom  of  this  stratum  issues  a  spring 
of  very  pure  water,  which  is  never  dry, 
and  retains  a  temperature  of  50  deg. 

Coarse  gravel,  sand  and  clay,  with  paving 
stones,  20 

Per-oxide  of  iron,  combined  with  sand  and 
clav,  2 


154  ELLIS     SPRING, 

Clay  and  coarse  gravel,  4  feet. 

Lamellated  slate,  soft  and  crumbly,  3 

Coarse  gravel  and  clay,  4 

Lamellated  slate  to  the  bed  of  the  rock,  10 

These  strata  are  all  placed  nearly  in  a  horizon- 
tal position,  and  are  well  defined. 

The  valley  in  which  the  mineral  fountain  dis- 
covers itself  is  of  a  semi-circular  form,  including 
the  area  of  an  acre. 

Differing  from  all  others  of  the  kind,  tliis  water 
issues  from  the  bank  in  a  horizontal  direction.  It 
betrays  its  character  the  moment  it  approaches 
the  surface,  by  its  sparkling  appearance,  and  the 
deposit  of  its  iron,  which  stains  the  walls  of  the 
little  rill,  as  it  trickles  down  the  declivity  to  the 
marsh,  a  few  k^i  below,  where  it  has  formed  a 
compact  rocky  substance,  resembling  in  all  re- 
.spects,  the  tufa  before  described. 

The  water  is  remarkably  clear ;  its  taste  is 
acidulous  and  chalybeate,  and  its  temperature  is 
48  deg.  It  affords  316  grains  of  solid  contents  to 
a  gallon,  which  contents  consist  of  marine  salt, 
carbonate  of  soda,  lime,  magnesia  and  iron  ;  the 
last  of  which  it  affords  in  as  great  abundance  as 
any  of  the  mineral  waters  either  at  Saratoga  or 


ELLIS'    SPRING.  155 

Ballston.  Ii  is  indeed  a  very  excellent  chalybe- 
ate water ;  and  as  such  it  is  in  high  estimation, 
although,  in  consequence  of  its  remote  situation,  it 
IS  but  seldom  resorted  to. 


QUAIOUI  SPRir^IGS. 


In  adciticn  to  the  springs  already  nciiccd,  (here 
v.1'2  Ecvcra!  others  which  belong  to  the  same  clo.ss, 
E'ltuated  in  the  town  of  Saratoga,  about  ten  miles 
ill  a  f-outhcr.^t  direction  from  the  Congress  Spring; 
t'loy  are  ca^cd  the  Quaker  Sprii:!g.;. 


T!:cse  ::prin;;3  inahe  their  appearance  throngh 
■X  bed  of  a^iilaccoLis  marl,  at  the:  boitom  of  a 
deep  vr.IIoy,  surrounded  by  gray-wacke  and  ar- 
giiIaceo':s  folate.  They  contain  lime,  magnesia 
and  iron,  hold  in  solution  by  the  carbonic  acid, 
ii::d  like  the  oth:r3,  they  likcv/isc  contain  a  por- 
tio:i  cf  common  salt  and  soda.  Tlioir  gaseous 
ccn'onty  sro  vrry  ^mall  in  comparison  witii 
<ho30  already  described ;  their  miireral  impregna- 
tion is  !:ot  r;Oiii?ient  to  en'ide  them  to  much 
attcnf:iGr,  arc;  d^cy  are  of  course  Lai  little  res:'i1- 
ed  to. 


BALLSTON  SPA. 


The  village  of  Ballston  Spa  is  situated  about 
seven  miles  in  a  southwest  direction  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Saratoga  Springs,  in  the  soutlieast  part  of 
tiie  town  of  Milton,  and  but  a  few  rods  from  the 
ngnh  line  of  the  town  of  Ballston.  The  great 
resort  to  this  place,  on  account  of  its  mineral  wa- 
ters has  made  it,  like  those  of  Saratoga,  a  place 
of  much  notoriety. 

The  mineral  springs  are  situated  in  a  marsii  at 
the  bottom  of  a  deep  valley,  through  which  one 
of  the  principal  branches  of  the  Kayaderosseras 
<.reek  passes.  They  were  discovered  during  tiie 
iurvey  and  partition  of  the  patent  of  Kayaderos- 
seras in  17G9  ;  and  about  the  same  time  the  Rev. 
EHphalet  Ball,  from  Bedford,  Westchester  coun- 
ty, with  a  number  of  his  congregation,  settled 
r.bout  two  miles  and  a  half  from  tiie  Springs  in  a 
southerly  direction,  on  a  tract  of  land  which  was 
hct  apart  and  sold  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the 
company  in  surveying  the  patent ;  and  wiiicii, 
from  that  time,  has  been  distinguished  by  ll^o 
name  of  Bal!s;ton. 


158  BALLSTON    SPA. 

In  1772,  one  Peter  Ferris  purchased  and  settled 
on  a  hundred  acre  lot,  the  second  west  from  the 
Springs  ;  and  about  the  same  time  Benajah  Doug- 
lass, who  had  resided  some  time  previous  near 
Lebanon  Springs,  (which  at  that  ..lime  had  be- 
come a  place  of  some  resort,)  entertaining  the 
belief  that  the  springs  at  Ballston  might  become 
a  watering  place  of  some  consequence,  purchased 
a,  lot  of  one  hundred  acres  adjacent  to  and  di- 
rectly west  of  the  then  principal  spring,  near 
which  he  erected  a  small  log  house  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  visitants.  Encouraged  by  the 
success  of  this  small  beginning,  Mr.  Douglass,  a 
few  years  after,  was  induced  to  build  a  small 
frame  house  across  the  creek,  on  the  flat  oppo- 
site the  spring.  At  this  period  the  waters  had 
acquired  a  reputation  of  considerable  notoriety, 
and  they  began  to  be  resorted  to  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  surroundii]g  country,  particularly 
from  the  city  of  Albany  and  the  settlements  along 
the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  Many  came  with 
their  waggons,  bringing  their  own  provisions  and 
forage,  and  staying  several  days,  substituting  the 
waggon  for  a  boarding  house.  After  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  set- 
tlement of  the  country  was  suspended,  and  very 
little  improvement  was  made  at  these  springs 
until  after  the  treaty  of  peace  was  concluded. 


BALLSTON    SPA.  159 

In  1791,  Mr.  Douglass  erected  a  large  building 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitants, .  the  same 
which  now  constitutes  the  front  of  the  excellent 
and  well  known  establishment  formerly  kept 
by  Mr.  Aldridge.  In  1792,  Nicholas  Low,  Esq. 
of  the  city  of  New- York,  the  then  proprietor  of 
the  lot  on  which  the  springs  were  situated,  erect- 
ed a  large  and  commodious  house  close  to  the 
spring,  which  was  kept  for  many  years  as  a  board- 
ing house,  and  sustained  a  high  reputation,  well 
known  as  McMaster's  boarding  house.  Dur- 
ing the  ensuing  ten  years,  these  establishments 
were  much  enlarged  and  improved,  and  several 
others  were  erected,  and  the  springs  now  became 
the  resort  of  great  numbers  of  invalids,  and  also 
of  the  wealthy  and  fashionable. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Low  erected  that  splendid  estab- 
lishment so  universally  known  and  admired,  the 
8an.s  Souci  Hotel,  and  in  the  spring  of  1804  it 
was  furnished  and  opened  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  visitants. 

In  1S07,  the  legislature  of  the  state  passed  an 
act  incorporating  the  settlement  at  tlic  springs, 
embracing  one  mile  s(iuare,  by  the  name  of  the 
^'illage  of  Ballston  Spa. 


160  BATLSTOIf    SPA. 

About  this  time  several  springs  were  discover- 
ed in  the  vicinity  of  those  already  known,  differ- 
ing but  little  in  their  general  character,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Sulphur  water,  a  few  feet  from 
the  spring  called  Low's  Well,  and  known  as  one 
of  those  called  the  Sans  Souci  Springs. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1817, 
continued  rains  had  so  swollen  the  small  stream 
which  passes  through  the  village,  that  it  burst 
over  its  usual  bounds,  and  in  some  places  formed 
for  itself  an  entire  new  channel.  On  the  subsi- 
ding of  the  flood,  a  new  spring  was  discovered, 
exhibiting  an  appearance  which,  connected  with 
its  medicinal  properties,  gave  for  a  time  much 
additional  celebrity  to  the  place.  It  was  situa- 
ted some  rods  below  what  was  called  the  Public 
Well,  and  in  what  was,  during  the  freshet,  the 
bed  of  the  stream.  It  issued  from  a  circular 
opening  of  several  feet  in  diameter,  affording  an 
immense  quantity  of  water,  attended  with  all  the 
characteristics  of  a  strong  mineral  impregnation. 

With  a  view  to  prevent  the  connection  of  the 
water  with  the  stratum  of  clay  through  which  it 
passed  up  to  the  surface,  and  hkewise  to  prevent 
the  intrusion  of  fresh  water,  a  tube  was  ingeni- 
ously constructed  and  forced  into  the  aperture 
from  whence  the  water  arose,  to  the  depth  of 


BALLSTON    SPA.  161 

nearly  thirty  feet.  In  this  tube  the  water  arose 
about  five  feet  above  the  level  of  the  brook,  and 
was  then  suffered  to  fall  over  its  sides,  producing 
in  some  measure  the  effect  of  a  jet  d'cau,  while 
the  surface  of  the  spring  was  brought  nearly  to  a 
level  with  the  eye,  furnishing  a  fine  opportunity 
for  inspecting  its  sparkling  properties  to  the 
greatest  advantage.  Close  to  the  side  of  this 
tube  another  was  inserted,  not  however  to  so 
great  a  depth,  through  which  the  water  arose 
somewhat  above  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and 
was  then  suffered  to  escape. 

It  was  not  a  little  singular  that  the  waters  of 
these  two  wells,  apparcnily  issuing  from  the 
same  source,  should  have  contained  difi'erent  por- 
tions of  the  muriate  of  soda,  while  they  very 
nearly  corresponded  in  all  the  other  articles 
which  they  contained. 

The  water  wiiich  flowed  from  these  tubes, 
combined  with  that  which  came  up  in  the  aper- 
ture around  them,  ran  off  in  a  stream  at  the  rate 
of  more  than  a  barrel  a  minute.  It  commenced 
the  deposit  of  its  chalybeate  and  calcareous  prop- 
erties the  moment  it  came  in  contact  with  the 
atmosphere,  and  the  quantity  given  off  by  so 
large  a  bulk  of  water  continued  to  mark  its  pas- 
o» 


162  BALLSTON   SPA. 

sage  along  the  brook  into  which  it  passed  for  the 
distance  of  more  than  a  mile. 

This  singular  fountain  continued  about  two 
years,  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  all  who  saw 
it  and  drank  of  its  waters.  At  length,  however, 
the  abundant  carbonic  acid  seemed  to  be  ex- 
hausted, or  to  have  taken  some  other  course,  and 
all  attempts  to  reclaim  it  have  as  yet  proved 
fruitless.  The  water  still  continues  to  flow  in 
abundance,  but  retaining  little  or  none  of  its  min- 
eral properties  excepting  its  iron,  which  it  still 
continues  to  hold  in  solution  in  considerable  quan- 
tities.    This  was  called  the  Washington  Sp7-ing. 

Not  long  after  the  first  appearance  of  the  last 
mentioned  spring,  it  was  thought  by  many  that 
the  old  spring  or  public  well  on  the  flat  had  suf- 
fered a  deterioration,  there  being  evidently  a 
much  less  evolution  of  uncombined  gas  than  usu- 
al, and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  immense 
quantity  of  gas  discharged  at  the  place  referred 
to  might  have  operated  to  produce  the  apparent 
diminution  at  the  old  spring  ;  the  failure,  howev- 
er, has  been  by  some  attributed  to  other  causes. 
A  desire  to  improve  the  condition  and  appear- 
ance of  the  well,  about  the  same  time,  induced 
an  officious  interference  with  its  situation,  which 
better  reflection  and  more  experience  would  pro- 


BALL6TON    SPA.  163 

bably  have  caused  to  be  omitted.  These  facts 
are  recorded  merely  as  a  matter  of  historj'-,  leav- 
ing the  inferences  to  be  confirmed  or  otherwise 
by  future  events.  The  water  of  the  old  spring, 
although  it  has  suffered  some  in  the  pubhc  esti- 
mation, and  is  certainly  not  quite  so  palatable  as 
formerly,  is  still  an  excellent  tonic,  sitting  more 
easy  and  light  on  the  stomachs  of  many  than  the 
waters  of  some  of  the  other  springs,  which  are 
more  highly  charged  with  the  carbonic  acid  gas, 
which  has  the  effect  sometimes  to  produce  dis- 
tention of  the  stomach,  and  consequent  vertigo 
and  pain  in  the  head. 

In  the  year  1822,  on  removing  an  old  floor  and 
other  rubbish  under  a  building  attached  to  the 
bathing  house,  a  spring  was  discovered,  or  rather 
reclaimed,  (for  its  existence  had  been  known 
many  years  before,)  apparently  more  saline  than 
any  which  the  place  afforded  ;  it  now  constitutes 
one  of  those  called  the  Sans  Souci  Springs,  and 
is  situated  about  equi-distant  from  the  one  origi- 
nally called  L(ni)\s  Well  and  the  Sulphur  Spring. 
It  is  now  the  spring  mostly  resorted  to,  particu- 
larly by  those  who  take  the  water  as  a  beverage, 
or  who  desire  its  cathartic  cH'cct. 

In  the  spring  of  1827,  an  effort  was  made  by 
a  number  of  enterprising  individuals  to  ex{)lore, 


164  BALLSTON    SPA. 

by  boring,  the  interior  of  the  slate  formation,  with 
a  view  to  obtain  a  further  supply  of  mineral 
water  at  this  place.  To  etfect  the  object,  a  ma- 
chine, invented  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Disbrow 
of  New-Jersey,  was  procured,  and  operations 
were  commenced  on  the  flat  nearly  opposite  to 
Aldridge's  boarding  house.  The  boring  was  be- 
gun in  the  bottom  of  a  pubhc  w^ell  that  had  been 
previously  sunk  to  the  depth  of  fourteen  feet, 
eight  of  which  were  in  the  rock.  At  the  depth 
of  about  eighty  feet  a  vein  of  mineral  water  was 
discovered  ;  a  tube  was  fitted  to  the  hole  in  the 
rock  of  sufficient  length  to  extend  a  little  above 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  and  the  water  immedi- 
ately rose  to  the  top  of  this  tube  and  escaped  in 
a  copious  stream,  affording  an  ample  supply  of  a 
lively  acidulous  water.  The  excavation,  how- 
ever, was  continued  to  the  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  feet,  but  without  any  considera- 
ble addition  to  the  water,  either  in  quantity  or 
quality,  except  a  slight  sulphurous  impregnation. 
This  spring  has  been  named  the  New  Washing- 
ton Fountain. 

Not  long  after  the  completion  and  establishment 
of  this  fountain,  a  most  singular  incident  occurred 
that  is  thought  worthy  to  be  recorded.  It  explod- 
ed, with  a  loud  noise  and  with  such  force  as  to 
tiirow  the  whole  column  of  water  contained  in 


BALLSTOX    SPA.  165 

tlic  well  many  feet  into  the  air,  leaving  a  distinct 
sulphurous  odour,  which  continued  for  some  ntin- 
utes  diffused  in  the  surrounding  atmosphere. 
The  spring  for  a  short  time  appeared  entirely 
empty ;  but  it  soon  filled  again  and  resumed  its 
original  appearauce,  and  has  ever  since  continued 
to  flow  from  a  basin,  which  is  now  fixed  to  the 
top  of  the  fountain.  It  is  somewhat  singular,  that 
since  tlie  explosion,  the  sulphurous  impregnation 
of  the  water  of  this  spring  has  nearly  or  quite  dis- 
appeared. 

During  the  succeeding  winter  a  similar  experi- 
ment of  boring  was  made,  with  nearly  similar  re- 
sults, in  a  place  called  The  Park,  a  little  west  from 
the  Sans  Souci  and  directly  in  the  rear  of  the 
Village  Hotel.  The  rock  was  stiiick  at  the  depth 
of  about  thirty  feet,  through  a  bed  of  dark  blue  ar- 
gillaceous marl.  At  about  the  same  depth  in  the 
rock  as  in  the  former  instance,  a  vein  of  mineral 
water  was  met  with,  very  nmch  resembling  that 
of  the  last  described  fountain.  The  boring,  how- 
ever, was  continued  to  the  depth  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy  feet,  being  about  two  hundred  and 
forty  feet  in  the  argillaceous  or  transition  slate, 
which  at  this  place  forms  the  bottom  of  the  val- 
ley in  which  all  the  above  described  springs  are 
situated. 


106  BALLSTON    SPA. 

From  the  aperture  thus  formed,  the  water  of 
this  fountain  now  flows  in  great  abundance,  rising 
several  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and 
presenting  a  beautiful  Uttle  pool,  which  is  tasteful- 
ly displayed  in  a  small  basin  secured  to  the  top  of 
the  tube  which  conducts  the  water  to  the  surface. 
It  is  an  acidulous  chalybeate  of  the  first  order,  and 
must  be  regarded  as  an  interesting  and  important 
acquisition  to  the  place.  It  has  received  the  dis- 
tinctive appellation  of  the  Park  Spring. 

These  waters  evidently  belong  to  the  same  class 
with  those  already  described  at  Saratoga^  and  if 
they  do  not  contain  quite  so  large  a  proportion  of 
the  saline  properties  as  some  of  the  fountains  at 
the  latter  place,  which  is  very  manifest  both  from 
the  taste  and  the  effects,  they  are  unquestionably 
entitled  to  rank  among  the  best  acidulous  cha- 
lybeate waters  which  this  or  any  other  country 
affords. 

In  order  to  examine  these  watei's  analytically, 
a  quantity  from  each  spring  was  secured  at  the 
fountain  in  well  stopped  bottles,  conveyed  to  the 
place  of  examination,  and  immediately  submitted 
to  the  operation  of  tests.  The  whole  of  the  exper- 
iments, both  to  determine  the  properties  and  to 
separate  the  different  ingredients,  were  conduct- 
ed in  the  same  manner  and  upon  the  same  princi- 


BALLSTON    SPA.  1G7 

pies  as  previously  detailed  in  the  examination  of 
the  Congress  water ;  and  the  indications  being  in 
all  respects  the  same,  there  occurring  no  percep- 
tible difference  other  than  what  would  naturally 
be  supposed  to  result  from  the  greater  or  less 
quantity  of  the  various  articles  held  in  solution 
by  each,  it  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  recapitu- 
late the  dry  details  of  these  experiments  in  this 
place. 

A  quantity  of  the  gas  was  procured  from  the 
water  of  each  fountain,  and  submitted  to  the  pro- 
cess of  examination  in  the  same  manner  as  here- 
tofore related  at  page  95.  It  was  found,  like  that 
procured  from  the  water  at  Saratoga  Springs,  to 
consist  of  pure  carbonic  acid,  with  an  admixture 
of  a  small  quantity  of  atmospheric  air. 

From  repeated  experiments  on  the  water  pro- 
cured from  the  several  springs  at  this  place,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  they  all  contain  considerable 
more  than  their  bulk  of  carbonic  acid  gas  ;  but 
not  having  the  necessary  materials  for  making  the 
examinations  on  the  sf)Ot,  and  the  certainty  that 
the  water  parts  with  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  gas  from  being  bottled,  however  carefully  it 
may  be  done,  no  attempt  was  made  to  estimate 
with  accuracy  the  amount  of  its  gaseous  pro- 
duct. 


iG8  BALLSTON    SPA. 

With  these  general  remarks  on  the  history, 
properties  and  character  of  the  mineral  waters  at 
Ballston  Spa,  I  shall  now  proceed  to  a  particular 
examination  of  some  of  the  principal  fountains,  or 
such  as  have  from  their  medical  properties  ac- 
quired the  most  celebrity. 


SAi^S  SOICI  SPRI]VG. 


Tins  spring  is  situated  immediately  in  the  rear 
of  the  Sans  Sonci,  and  is  more  familiarly  known 
by  the  name  of  '"  Jack's  Spring."  Its  history  has 
been  already  related  in  the  general  remarks.  Its 
water  is  sparkling  aiid  acidulous,  and  its  taste  high- 
ly chalybeate  and  somewhat  saline. 

The  water  from  which  the  following  analysis 
was  made  was  procured  from  the  spring  in  the 
fore  {)art  of  the  month  of  February,  1830,  and 
during  the  winter  following,  1831,  the  examina- 
tion was  repeated  on  different  quantities  of  the 
water,  with  results  perfectly  corresponding.  The 
processes  adopted  for  determining  and  separating 
the  various  ingredients  were  the  same  in  all  re- 
s[)ccts  as  those  detailed  in  the  examination  of  the 
Congress  water,  a  repetition  of  which  is  altogeth- 
er unnecessary. 

The  temperature  of  the  water  at  the  bottom  of 
the  well,  at  a  time  wiien  the  thermometer  stood 
iu  tiic  open  air  at  20  dcg.  alcove  zero,  was  50  (leg. 
and  its  sp<;citic  gravity  at  the  temperature  of  00 
dfg.  was  1005.7,  jnue  water  being  1000. 


170  SANS    SOUCI    SPRING. 

One  gallon,  or  231  cubic  inches,  of  the  water 
from  this  spring  contains  the  following  substan- 
ces, viz. 


Chloride  of  Sodium, 

143.733 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda, 

12.66 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia, 

39.1 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

43.407 

Carbonate  of  Iron, 

5.95 

Ilydriodate  of  Soda, 

1.3 

Sihx, 

1. 

Solid  contents  in  a  oallon. 

247.15  trrs, 

I  have  omitted  to  mention  the  presence  of  the 
hydro-hromatc  of  potash  in  the  above  enumeration 
of  the  ingredients,  because  that  substance  is  not 
satisfactorily  indicated  in  one  gallon  of  the  water, 
as  is  the  case  M'ith  the  same  article  in  some  of 
the  springs  at  Saratoga ;  but  1  liavc  no  doubt,  that 
by  concentrating  a  nuich  larger  portion  of  the  wa- 
ter, its  presence  might  have  been  demonstrated. 
This  substance,  together  with  that  of  the  lujdrio- 
date  of  soda,  seems  in  some  way  connected  with 
the  marine  salt,  the  quantity  being  increased  or 
diminished  according  as  that  salt  is  afforded  in  a 
greater  or  less  abundance.  The  hydriodate  of 
soda  appears  to  be  in  the  proportion  of  about 
one  to  a  hundred  of  the  chloride  of  sodium,  wliilc 


BALLSTON    SPA.  171 

the  proportion  of  the  hydro-bromate  of  potasli  is 
much  less,  and  is  scarcely  to  be  detected  in  those 
waters  that  contain  the  greatest  quantity  of  the 
marine  salt ;  and  in  those  which  contain  a  much 
less  quantity,  it  can  only  be  demonstrated  by  con- 
cenlratinff  several  gallons  of  the  water. 


tOTT'S  SPRING. 


This  spring  is  situated  near  to  the  one  just  de- 
scribed, and  its  appearance  and  sensible  proper- 
ties are  certainly  not  very  dissimilar  to  it.  Its 
specific  gravity  and  its  temperature,  at  the  time  I 
examined  them,  were  the  same  ;  and  as  the  appli- 
cation of  re-agents  indicated  no  essential  differ- 
ence in  their  constituent  properties,  they  may  with 
great  propriety  be  presumed  to  be  the  same,  or 
very  nearly  the  same  water. 


PARK  SPRIXG. 


This  fountain  is  situated  in  the  immediate 
neigliborhood  of  the  two  last  described  springs, 
in  the  rear  of  the  Village  Hotel.  Its  situation  and 
history  have  already  been  described.  The  spe- 
cific gravity  is  considerably  less  than  that  of 
either  of  the  other  two  springs,  and  from  the 
analysis,  it  aflbrds  a  much  less  quantity  of  all  the 
saline  substances  excepting  the  iron,  with  which 
this  water  is  undoubtedly  saturated.  From  one 
gallon  I  obtained  4.5  grains  of  the  pure  oxide  of 
iron,  equivalent  "to  6|  grains  of  the  carbonate  of 
iron,  (a  tjuantity  unexampled  in  any  of  the  other 
springs  ;)  and  the  water  not  holding  so  large  a 
(juantity  of  the  saline  ingredients  in  solution,  it 
constitutes  one  of  the  purest  and  best  simple  aci- 
dulous cliahjhcatc  Maters  which  can  any  where 
be  found  ;  and  in  all  cases  where  simple  chaly- 
bcates  alone  are  recommended,  this  water  should 
undoubtedly  have  the  preference. 


THE  PUBI.IC  WEM.. 


This  spring  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  the 
village,  on  the  flat  ground  nearly  opposite  to 
Aldridge's  late  boarding  house.  It  was  formerly 
the  most  distinguished  of  any  which  the  place 
afforded,  and  it  was  ornamented  and  secured  with 
a  handsome  iron  paling  and  marble  floor  ;  but  un- 
der an  apprehension  that  the  spring  had  suffered 
in  its  properties  from  the  great  pressure  occa- 
sioned by  these  heavy  stones,  they  have  been  re- 
moved without  benefitting  the  water,  and  certain- 
ly without  adding  any  thing  to  the  beauty  of  the 
place. 

Notwithstanding  that  this  spring  has,  within  a 
few  years,  suffered  considerably  in  the  estimation 
of  the  public,  it  is  still  much  used,  and  is  undoubt- 
edly an  excellent  chalybeate  water. 

It  has  been  generally  asserted  that  "  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  in  conveying  the  land  at  this  place 
to  individuals,  reserved  this  spring  for  the  benev- 
olent purpose  of  serving  the  public."  Where 
this  story  came  from  originally  is  not  easy  to  tell ; 
it  is  certain  that  Sir  William  never  owned  any 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  either  of  the  springs.     The 


BALLSTON   SPA.  175 

title  under  which  the  lands  at  this  place  are  held 
was  obtained  from  the  representatives  of  May 
Bickley,  one  of  the  original  patentees,  over  which 
Sir  William  never  had  even  the  control  of  an 
agency. 


THE  NEW  WASHIWGTOIV  SPRING. 


This  spring,  like  that  last  noticed,  is  situated 
in  the  street,  a  few  rods  distant,  in  a  southerly 
direction. 

The  water  submitted  to  an  examination  was 
procured  from  the  fountain  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1831,  and  different  portions  of  it  were 
carefully  examined  under  the  same  rules  and  reg- 
ulations as  already  described.  Its  specific  gravi- 
ty is  1004.6,  pure  water  being  1000,  and  its  tem- 
perature 51  deg. ;  and  one  gallon  contains  the 
following  articles,  viz. 


Chloride  of  Sodium, 

89.83 

Bi-carbonate  of  Soda, 

18.057 

Bi-carbonate  of  Magnesia, 

42.042 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

41.51 

Hydriodate  of  Soda, 

0.7 

Carbonate  of  Iron, 

3.71 

Sihx  and  Alumine, 

1.25 

Solid  contents  in  a  gallon. 

gr.  197.099 

This  well  when  it  was  first  opened  emitted  a 
perceptible  quantity  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  but 


BALLSTON    SPA.  177 

it  has  now  nearly  or  quite  disappeared,  particu- 
larly since  the  memorable  event  of  its  eruption, 
as  before  noticed.  The  gas,  which  it  now  emits 
in  great  abundance,  is  purely  carbonic  acid,  pro- 
bably combined  with  a  small  quantity  of  atmos- 
pheric air. 

All  these  waters,  if  drank  in  large  quantities, 
or  taken  by  persons  whose  stomachs  are  rather 
irritable,  operate  as  an  aperient,  and  at  the  same 
time  have  a  powerful  effect  as  a  diuretic,  and  are 
of  eminent  service  in  all  those  chronic  affections 
where  chalvbeate  medicines  are  indicated. 


SUtPIIflREOUS  WATERS. 


Besides  the  acidulous  saline  chalybeate  waters 
so  bountifully  bestowed  on  tliis  county,  there  are 
several  other  mineral  fountains  of  a  different 
character ;  I  allude  to  those  springs  which  be- 
long to  the  class  termed  sulphureous  waters. 
There  are  several  of  this  class  which  occur  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  argillaceous  slate  formation, 
and  they  very  probably  ow^e  their  origin  to  the 
decomposition  of  the  iron  pyrites,  or  sulphuret  of 
iron  which  abounds  in  this  rock. 

By  far  the  most  interesting  and  important 
spring  belonging  to  this  class  is  situated  on  the 
east  border  of  Saratoga  Lake,  on  a  farm  belong- 
ing to  a  Mr.  Abel,  about  one  mile  south  of  Snake 
Hill,  at  the  bottom  of  a  deep  ravine,  which  opens 
to  the  lake,  and  discloses  a  fine  view  of  that 
beautiful  sheet  of  water.  The  well  is  situated 
but  a  few  yards  from  the  beach  ;  the  water  rises 
up  through  a  bed  of  argillaceous  marl,  and  diffu- 
ses its  sulphureous  odour  in  the  atmosphere  to 
some  distance  around. 

The  water  is  very  limpid  when  first  dipped, 
but  on  standing  some  time  it  deposits  a  small 


SULPHURBOUS   WATERS.  179 

quantity  of  argillaceous  earth,  which  when  thrown 
on  ignited  coals,  exhibits  evidences  of  sulphur. 
This  sediment  is  likewise  deposited  around  the 
spring  and  along  the  course  of  its  current. 

It  has  a  strong  siflphureous  and  foeted  smell, 
nearly  resembling  that  of  bilge  water,  and  it  pos- 
sesses an  offensive  nauseous  taste  ;  it  however 
becomes  more  palatable  after  drinking  it  a  few 
times. 

Strips  of  litmus  paper  plunged  into  this  water 
fresh  from  the  spring  are  slightly  reddened  by  it, 
but  the  paper  resumes  its  blue  color  on  drying. 

Characters  traced  on  paper  with  a  solution  of 
the  acetate  of  lead,  when  plunged  into  water 
fresh  from  the  spring,  become  nearly  black,  and 
they  are  made  legible  on  suspending  the  paper  a 
fuw  minutes  over  the  fountain. 

Polished  silver  is  immediately  tarnished  by  im- 
mersing it  in  the  water,  and  silver  watches  worn 
in  the  pockets  of  those  who  are  in  the  daily  use 
of  it  are  said  to  be  blackened  by  it. 

The  usual  tests  do  not  indicate  the  presence  of 
any  metalic  substance  in  this  water,  nor  arc 
there  any  indications  of  hmc,  magnesia  or  manno 


180  SULPHUREOUS   WATERS. 

salt ;  the  constituent  properties  are  purely  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen,  together  with  a  small  quan- 
tity of  alumine,  which  is  diffused  in  it,  but  not  in 
a  sufficient  quantity  to  render  it  turbid. 

Its  temperature  is  48  deg.  and  its  specific 
gravity  is  but  very  little  above  that  of  pure 
water. 

Doctors  Armstrong  and  Johnson  have  given 
a  new  impulse  to  the  use  of  sulphureous  wa- 
ters in  the  cure  of  visceral  congestions  and 
chronic  affections  of  the  digestive  oi'gans  ;  and  it 
is  highly  probable  that  a  free  internal  use  of  the 
water  of  this  spring,  connected  with  some  mild 
laxative  medicine,  will  be  found  highly  servicea- 
ble in  a  great  variety  of  those  afflictive  complaints. 

Baths  might  easily  be  constructed  here,  and 
the  water  conducted  directly  into  them  from  the 
fountain,  which  produces  a  sufficient  quantity  for 
a  constant  supply.  Bathing  in  waters  of  this  de- 
scription has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  efficacy 
in  the  cure  of  a  great  variety  of  eruptive  and 
other  diseases  of  the  skin  ;  and  it  is  highly  pro- 
bable that  this  spring  will  ultimately  become  an 
important  appendage  to  the  distinguished  waters 
of  Saratoga  and  Ballston,  from  either  of  which  it 
is  but  a  few  miles  distant,  and  the  ride  includes 


SULPHUREOUS    WATEIIS.  181 

all  the  variety  of  scenery  presented  by  the   lake 
and  it  environs. 


In  the  valley  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Kayaderosseras  creek,  about  two  miles  westerly 
from  the  village  of  Saratoga  Springs,  is  another 
strongly  scented  sulphureous  spring  ;  it  rises  per- 
pendicularly from  the  earth  in  a  stream  sufficient 
to  turn  a  mill,  at  the  bottom  of  a  steep  bank, 
composed  of  sand,  clay  and  coarse  gravel. 

The  approach  to  this  spring  is  discovered  at 
the  distance  of  some  yards,  by  the  sulphureous 
odour  with  which  it  impregnates  the  atmosphere. 
The  water  is  clear,  and  but  triflingly  agitated  by 
the  escape  of  gas  ;  its  taste  is  unpleasant,  not  un- 
like the  washings  of  a  rusty  gun  barrel.  It  de- 
posits a  brown  sediment,  which  marks  its  passage 
to  tiic  creek,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  yards. 

Its  temperature  is  50  dcg.  while  that  of  a  foun- 
tain of  pure  water  which  issues  from  the  same 
bank  in  a  horizontal  direction,  and  within  ten  feet 
of  it,  is  at  10  dcg. 

In  addition  to  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen  which 

this  water  aflbrds,  it  contains  a  small  proportion 

of  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  is  slightly  impregnated 

with  marine  salt,  iron  and  lime.     It  is  highly  ex- 

Q 


182  SULPHLREOUS    WATERS. 

tolled  for  its  efficacy  in  the  cure  of  eruptive  dis- 
eases, for  which  it  is  used,  both  internally  and 
externally ;  but  owing  to  its  remote  situation,  and 
the  want  of  proper  accommodations,  it  is  but  lit- 
tle resorted  to  at  present. 

At  Ballston  Spa,  situated  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  Sans  Souci  fountain,  there  is  a  spring  which 
has  received  the  name  of  the  Sulphur  Spring. 
It  is  a  weak,  saline  chalybeate,  containing  a  small 
quantity  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas,  which  is 
sufficiently  apparent  both  from  the  smell  and 
taste.  Its  sulphureous  impregnation,  however, 
•does  not  appear  to  be  sufficient  to  make  it  very 
important  on  that  account.  It  is  much  used  for 
bathing,  and  is  recommended  and  used  in  a  great 
varietv  of  cutaneous  affections. 


PRACTICAL  OBSERVATIONS 

OM     TUK 

iHEDICAIi    PROPERTIES 

OF 

THE  WATERS. 


■  I  shall  conclude  my  remarks  on  the  waters  of 
these  fountains,  by  a  few  general  observations  on 
their  medical  properties,  and  their  application  in 
the  various  diseases  for  which  they  have  become 
so  deservedly  celebrated. 

These  waters  are  so  generally  used,  and  their 
cfi'ects  so  seldom  injurious,  particularly  to  persons 
in  health,  that  almost  every  one  who  has  ever 
drank  of  them  assumes  the  prerogative  of  direct- 
ing their  use  to  others  ;  and  were  these  direc- 
tions always  the  result  of  experience  and  obser- 
vation, they  would  certainly  be  less  objectiona- 
ble ;  but  there  are  numerous  persons  who  flock 
about  the  springs  during  the  drinking  season, 
without  any  knowledge  of  the  composition  of  the 


184  PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 

waters,  and  little  or  none  of  their  effects,  wlio 
contrive  to  dispose  of  their  directions  to  the  igno- 
rant  and  unvi^ary,  with  no  other  effect  than  to  in- 
jure the  reputation  of  the  water  and  destroy  the 
prospects  of  the  diseased. 

JMany  persons  who  resort  to  the  springs  for  the 
restoration  of  health,  seem  to  be  governed  by  the 
idea,  that  they  are  to  recover  in  proportion  to  the 
quantity  they  drink  ;  and,  although  many  who 
are  in  health  may,  and  frequently  do,  swallow 
down  enormous  quantities  of  the  water  with  ap- 
parent impunity,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  those 
whose  stomaclis  are  enfeebled  by  disease  can 
take  the  same  quantity  with  the  same  effect. 
Stomachs  of  this  description  frequently  reject 
large  portions  of  the  water,  and  thereby  protect 
the  system  from  the  disastrous  consequences  that 
would  otherwise  follow.  But  when  it  happens 
to  be  retained,  the  result  is  indeed  distressing ; 
the  pulse  becomes  quick  and  feeble,  the  extremi- 
ties cold,  the  head  painful  and  dizzy,  the  bowels 
swollen  and  tender,  and  the  whole  train  of  nerv- 
ous affections  alarmingly  increased  ;  and  should 
the  unfortunate  sufferer  survive  the  effects  of  his 
imprudence,  it  is  only  to  a  renewal  of  his  worst 
apprehensions,  from  a  loss  of  confidence  in  what 
he  most  probably  considered  a  last  resort. 


PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS.  185 

In  directing  the  use  of  the  waters,  I  shall  con- 
fine my  remarks  to  a  few  observations  on  their 
medical  application,  of  a  general  character  only ; 
particular  dircctions  can  only  be  given  with  safe- 
ty to  the  patient  from  a  careful  investigation  of 
tiie  particular  symptoms,  character  and  nature  of 
the  complaint. 

Among  the  great  variety  of  invalids  who  re- 
sort to  the  springs,  none  perhaps  receive  more 
essential  and  etTectual  benefit  from  their  use  than 
those  usually  termed  bilious. 

In  all  those  aiTections  usually  termed  bilious,  if 
the  attack  be  recent  and  unattended  by  any  seri- 
ous organic  affection,  it  is  most  usually  removed 
in  the  course  of  a  few  days  by  a  free  use  of  the 
Congress  water  alone  ;  but  in  those  cases  where 
the  functions  of  the  stomach  and  bowels  have  be- 
come impaired  from  the  long  continuace  of  the 
disease,  attended  with  anasarcus  swellings  of  the 
extremities,  &c.  although  the  waters  of  this  foun- 
tain may  be  resorted  to  with  nearly  the  same  as- 
surance of  obtaining  relief,  nevertheless  more 
caution  is  intlispensably  necessary  in  its  adminis- 
tration ;  lor  should  a  great  (juantity  of  the  water 
be  drank  without  having  the  proper  effect  by  the 
bowels  and  kidneys,  it  is  never  beneficial,  but  on 


186  PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

the  contrary,  frequently  increases  the  most  alarm- 
ing symptoms  of  the  complaint. 

In  cases  of  this  description,  I  have  long  been  in 
the  habit  of  recommending  the  addition  of  some 
mild  cathartic  medicine  ;  and  for  this  purpose  a 
few  grains  of  calomel,  or  the  blue  pill,  are  direct- 
ed to  be  taken  over  night,  followed  in  the  morn- 
ing with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  water  to 
move  the  bowels  briskly  two  or  three  times,  with 
the  happiest  effect.  A  few  doses  of  this  descrip- 
tion usually  puts  the  bowels  in  a  situation  to  be 
more  easily  wrought  upon  by  the  water,  and  the 
patient  becomes  convinced  of  its  efficacy  in  his 
disease  from  a  few  days  proper  application. 

In  the  more  advanced  stages  of  bilious  affec- 
tions, where  the  organization  of  the  liver  and  oth- 
er viscera  have  materially  suffered,  and  the  dis- 
position to  general  hycb-ops,  indicated  by  the  en- 
largement of  the  extremities,  fullness  of  the  abdo- 
men, &c.  the  waters  are  all  of  them  manifestly 
injurious,  and  are  not  to  be  admitted,  even  as  an 
auxiliaiy  remedy. 

In  all  those  functional  affections  of  the  organs 
employed  in  the  process  of  digestion,  constituting 
what  is  usually  termed  dyspepsia,  the  waters 


PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS.  187 

have  long  maintained  a  high  and  deserved  repu- 
tation. The  Congress  water  is  principally  relied 
on  for  the  cure  of  these  affections.  This  should 
be  taken  in  the  morning,  an  hour  or  two  before 
breakfast,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  move  the  bow- 
els freely  once  or  twice.  In  ordinary  cases,  four 
or  five  tumblers  full  are  sufficient  for  the  purpose ; 
and  in  weak  irritable  habits,  half  the  quantity,  or 
a  single  tumbler  full  in  some  cases,  is  amply  suf- 
ficient to  answer  the  purpose. 

In  those  cases  where  the  bowels  are  attended 
with  an  habitual  constipation,  the  large  quantity 
of  water  required  to  move  them  often  produces 
unpleasant  distention  of  the  stomach  and  bowels, 
and  by  producing  cold  chills  and  nausea,  frequent- 
ly defeats  the  general  intention  of  its  application. 
This,  in  some  instances,  may  be  remedied  by 
simply  elevating  the  temperature  of  the  water  by 
keeping  it  for  some  hours  in  well  stopped  bottles 
in  a  warm  room.  When  this  fails,  recourse  may 
be  had  to  some  suitable  laxative,  which  should  be 
taken  over  night  on  going  to  bed  ;  and  a  much 
less  quantity  of  the  water  in  the  morning  will  an- 
swer the  wishes  of  the  patient,  witiiout  subjecting 
him  to  any  very  great  inconvenience.  Or,  if  cir- 
cumstances recjuire  a  still  greater  effect,  a  little 
epsom,  or  some  otiier  laxative  salt,  may  be  added 


188  PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

to  the  first  glass  of  the  water.  In  this  way  the 
difficulty  will  soon  be  overcome,  when  a  much 
less  quantity  of  the  water  will  be  found  to  answer 
the  purpose. 

But  the  Congress  water  is  not  alone  to  be  de- 
pended on  for  the  removal  of  these  affections : 
when  the  stomach  and  bowels  have  been  prop- 
erly cleansed  by  the  mild  and  innocent  purgative 
properties  of  this  water,  for  which  purpose  it  is 
to  be  drank  only  in  the  morning,  the  remainder 
of  the  day  should  be  devoted  to  the  moderate  and 
discreet  use  of  some  of  the  more  pure  chalybeate 
waters :  as  that  of  the  Flat  Rock,  Columbian, 
High  Rock,  Ellis^  Spring,  or  Ballston  Spa. 

The  quantity  of  water  from  either  of  these 
fountains,  to  be  used  daily,  must  necessarily  de- 
pend in  a  great  measure  on  the  state  of  the  dis- 
ease and  the  condition  of  the  stomach.  It  is 
therefore  best  to  commence  their  use  in  small 
quantities  at  a  time,  and  at  distant  and  regular 
intervals  ;  gradually  increasing  the  quantity  and 
frequency  of  the  draught,  as  may  be  most  agree- 
ble  to  the  stomach,  and  least  unpleasant  to  the 
feelings.  In  this  way  the  quantity  may  be  in- 
creased to  from  one  to  two  quarts  ;  and  it  is 
questionable  whether  a  much  larger  quantity  may 
be  drank  with  any  additional  advantage. 


PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS.  189 

The  use  of*  chalybeate  medicines  in  tlic  cure  of 
the  deranged  slate  of  the  digestive  organs  has  sel- 
dom been  directed,  except  in  conjunction  with 
laxatives  of  some  kind  ;  and  it  is  now  a  subject 
of  speculation  with  some  of  our  best  and  well  in- 
formed practitioners,  whether  the  cure  might  not 
be  as  expeditiously  efibcted  by  the  judicious  ad- 
ministration of  laxatives  alone.  It  is  certain  that 
three  fourths  of  the  cases  usually  termed  dyspeji- 
tic,  which  congregate  at  these  springs  during  the 
drinking  season,  owe  their  origin  to  the  ill-timed 
administration  of  chalybeates  and  other  tonic 
remedies,  prescribed  for  the  purpose  of  bracing 
up  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  debilitated  stom- 
ach ;  or  in  more  familiar  terms,  "  to  wind  vj)  a 
run  down  constitution" 

«•  From  long  and  unbiassed  observation,"  says 
the  venerable  Doct.  Armstrong,  "  I  am  fully  con- 
vinced that  most  of  the  medicines  called  tonics 
arc  cither  useless  or  pernicious  ;  and  if  these 
were  erased  from  the  phai-macopocias,  it  would 
be  a  real  benefit  to  the  profession  and  mankind  ; 
fjr  they  only  serve  to  mislead  the  furmer,  and  to 
tantalize  or  injure  the  latter.  Tijnic  medicines 
generally  opj)ress  the  digestive  functions,  or  ope- 
rate as  direct  stimulants,  and  in  either  case  they 
arc  improper  in  convalescence  :  for  by  the  first 


190  PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

they  may  destroy  the  natural  appetite,  and  by  the 
last  they  may  lead  to  chronic  inflammations.  So 
far  from  such  drugs  being  appropriate  to  a  stage 
of  convalescence  from  acute  disease,  mild  laxa- 
tives are  most  frequently  requisite  to  preserve  a 
right  balance  between  the  ingesta  and  the  eges- 
ta ;  and  the  practitioner  who  substitutes  the  for- 
mer will  find  that  his  patients  will  pass  better 
through  convalescence,  and  be  afterwards  far  less 
subject  to  consecutive  attacks  of  inflammation." 
These  remarks  are  so  much  in  accordance  with 
my  own  experience  and  observation,  that  I  could 
not  forego  the  oppportunity  of  transcribing  them 
here. 

But  whether  the  tonic  medicines  be  or  be  not 
appropriate  in  the  cure  of  the  deranged  state  of 
the  digestive  organs,  it  is  certain  that  the  quanti- 
ty of  iron  found  in  the  water  of  those  fountains 
which  contain  the  largest  proportion  of  that  arti- 
cle, is  quite  too  trifling  to  merit  a  serious  consid- 
eration as  a  remedy  in  any  disease.  That  the 
waters  possess  powerful  stimulating  and  exciting 
powers  cannot  be  disputed  ;  but  whether  this 
property  be  owing  to  the  small  portion  of  iron, 
as  is  usually  supposed,  which  enters  into  its  com- 
position, may  very  rationally  be  doubted. 


PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS.  191 

Conjoined  with  the  internal  use  of  the  waters, 
bathing  should  not  be  neglected  ;  its  exhilcrating 
effect  upon  tiie  surface  of  the  body  contributes 
much  to  the  restoration  of  the  vifjor  and  strength 
of  the  stomach.  The  cold  shower  hath  should  al- 
ways be  preferred  where  the  energy  of  the  circu- 
lation is  sufficient  to  overcome  the  effects  of  the 
cold,  and  produce  the  sensation  of  warmth  over 
tlie  surface  immediately  after  its  application  ; 
where  this  sensation  is  not  produced,  tlie  cold  bath 
should  be  dispensed  with,  and  the  tepid  or  warm 
bath  substituted  in  its  stead,  together  with  gene- 
ral friction  with  a  flesh  brush  or  coarse  flannel 
over  the  whole  body. 

Tiic  stimulating  effects  of  these  w^aters,  arising 
from  their  saline  and  gaseous  properties,  give  them 
a  decided  preference  over  any  other  as  a  bath  ; 
and  those  who  are  laboring  undet  a  deficient  or 
irregular  action  of  the  cutaneous  vessels,  arising 
cither  from  a  sympathetic  affection  with  a  diseas- 
ed stomach,  or  from  an  original  aftection  of  the 
vessels  themselves,  will  find  it  to  their  advantage 
to  persevere  in  its  use  under  this  form. 

The  idea  of  bathing  before  sunrise  or  early  in 
the  morning  is  entirely  wrong.  Before  bathing, 
the  system  should  always  be  hivigorated  by  the 
effect  of  moderate  exercise  and  a  nutricious  re- 


192  PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

past.  The  hour  of  ten  or  eleven  in  the  forenoon 
is  therefore  the  most  suitable  time  for  its  applica- 
tion. 

In  CALCULOUS  and  nephritic  complaints  the 
waters  have  long  been  celebrated  for  their  effica- 
cy, and  numerous  w^ell  attested  instances  of  their 
good  effects  can  be  produced,  where  the  disease 
was  not  only  benefitted,  but  effectually  cured. 
In  these  cases,  the  subjects  of  them,  after  using 
the  water  for  some  weeks,  voided  large  quantities 
of  sand  and  small  gravel,  and  have  since  felt  no 
symptoms  of  the  return  of  the  complaint. 

The  waters  that  would  seem  to  promise  most 
in  these  diseases  are  those  which  contain  the  great- 
est quantity  of  the  mrated  alkali,  but  they  have 
usually  been  drank  indiscriminately  for  this  pur- 
pose, without  reference  to  any  particular  fountain ; 
it  is  therefore  probable  that  the  carbonic  acid, 
together  with  the  carbonated  earths,  add  some- 
thing to  the  lithoutrijitic  properties  of  these  wa- 
ters. 

They  should  be  drank  in  such  quantities  as  to 
keep  the  bowels  open,  and  repeated  sufficiently 
often  to  keep  up  an  increased  secretion  by  the 
kidneys. 


PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS.  193 

The  icarm  hath,  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  internal 
use  of  the  waters,  is  of  much  importance  ;  it  great- 
ly facilitates  the  passage  of  the  ragged  fragments 
of  gravel  which  sometimes  take  place  from  the 
cftect  of  this  remedy.  Its  temperature  should  be 
from  100  to  110  deg.  and  the  length  of  time 
proper  for  continuing  it  should  be  from  one  to 
two  liours. 

In  CHRONIC  RiiEu>L\TisM,  the  virtues  of  the 
waters  were  known,  and  celebrated,  by  the  abo- 
rigines ;  and  the  observations  of  more  modern 
visitants  have  tended  greatly  to  confirm  the  good 
opinion  entertained  by  the  original  proprietors. 
The  Congress  water  has  the  most  celebrity  in  this 
disease  :  it  should  be  taken  in  the  morning,  in  suf- 
ficient quantities  to  move  the  bowels  two  or  three 
times,  and  followed  by  moderate  draughts  of  some 
of  the  other  fountains  ;  and,  in  most  instances,  the 
shower  bath  will  add  much  to  the  efficacy  of  the 
water.  Following  this  course  for  a  length  of  time 
gradually  relaxes  the  rigidity  of  the  muscles,  adds 
strength  and  facility  of  motion  to  the  diseased 
jc^ints,  and  restores  case  and  vigor  to  the  whole 
?}'stem. 

The  ANTnniTis,  or  gout,  has  but  seldom  ap- 
peared at  the  Springs.  Wiicthcr  this  absence  is 
to  bo  imputed  to  the  few  cases  that,  compara- 

R 


194  PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 

tively  speaking,  occur  in  our  country,  or  to  a  pre- 
vailing opinion  that  the  use  of  the  waters  would 
be  injurious,  is  uncertain.  If,  ho  we  vet,  one  may 
be  allowed  to  judge  from  the  few  cases  which 
have  appeared  at  the  waters,  there  is  some  reason 
to  believe  they  may  prove  highly  serviceable, 
particularly  in  the  incipient  or  forming  stage  of  the 
complaint ;  but  in  those  cases  whei'e  the  disease 
has  become  confirmed,  and  the  system,  for  a  long 
time,  has  been  subjected  to  a  course  of  powerful 
stimulants,  the  operation  of  the  waters  is  more 
doubtful ;  and  indeed  several  instances  have  oc- 
curred where  their  use  evidently  tended  to  invite 
a  recurrence  of  the  paroxysms. 

In    PHAGEDEMC,    Or    ILL-CONDITIONED     ULCERS 

of  the  extremities,  perhaps  no  application  has  ev- 
er been  attended  with  more  effectual  benefit  in  a 
variety  of  these  affections  than  a  free  use  of  the 
waters;  but  the  various  forms  and  circumstances 
under  which  this  afflictive  complaint  presents  it- 
self require  particular  attention,  as  they  form  the 
only  criterion  for  a  proper  application  of  this  high- 
ly useful  remedy. 

Persons  afflicted  with  obstinate  and  painful  cu- 
taneous ERUPTIONS  derive  great  and  important 
benefit  from  a  properly  directed  course  of  bathing 
and  drinking.    And  in  that  peculiarly  relaxed  and 


PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS.  195 

enfeebled  state  of  the  system  arising  from  a  long 
protracted  mercurial  course,  the  water  connected 
with  the  air  and  exercises  of  the  countr\',  has  ne- 
ver failed  of  proving  an  efficacious  and  speedy 
restorative. 

Scrofula  is  another  disease  for  which  those 
who  are  afflicted  with  it  frequently  become  appli- 
cants to  the  waters,  and  experience  has  abund- 
antly sanctioned  the  belief  of  their  utility  in  that 
complaint. 

Before  the  discovery  of  Iodine  in  these  waters, 
their  operation  in  the  cure  of  strumous  aftbctions 
was  considered  as  somewhat  mysterious,  but 
since  that  substance  has  been  demonstrated  as 
forming  one  of  the  constituent  ingredients  in  the 
water,  the  mystery  has  been  solved,  and  the  wa- 
ters are  now  prescribed  in  these  aftbctions  with  a 
confidence  which  the  important  and  active  prop- 
erties of  this  interesting  article  is  calculated  to 
inspire. 

As  Iodine  is  a  substance  which  has  been  recent- 
ly introduced  info  the  list  of  valuable  rcnudies,  a 
short  notice  ()f  its  history  and  medical  character 
will  not  be  uninteresting,  particularly  to  the  gene- 
ral rea<lor. 


196  PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 

This  singular  and  interesting  article  %vas  fii-sl 
discovered  by  a  manufacturer  of  saltpetre  at  Pa- 
ris, no  longer  ago  than  1812.  In  washing  the  car- 
bonate of  soda  from  the  ashes  of  sea-weeds,  he 
observed  that  the  residual  liquor  corroded  the 
metalic  vessels  in  which  it  was  standing,  and  on 
the  addition  of  sulphuric  acid  he  obtained  a  dark 
coloured  precipitate,  which  was  converted  into  a 
beautiful  violet  coloured  vapour  by  the  application 
of  heat.  Some  of  this  substance  was  put  into 
the  hands  of  M.  Clement,  a  distinguished  chemist 
of  Paris,  who  soon  recognized  it  as  a  new  body  ; 
and  in  1813  he  first  described  it  in  the  royal  insti- 
tution of  France.  Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  Gay 
Lussac,  and  a  number  of  other  distinguished  chem- 
ists, liave  subsequently  investigated  its  chemical 
habitudes,  and  determined  its  real  nature. 

Iodine,  in  a  pure  state  at  the  ordinary  tempera- 
ture of  the  atmosphere,  is  a  soft,  friable,  opaque 
solid,  of  a  bluish  black  colour,  somewhat  resem- 
blijig  plumbago.  It  occurs  usually  in  crystalline 
scales  ;  it  sublimes  rapidly  at  a  temperature  even 
!)c]ow  that  of  boiling  water  ;  and  it  suffers  a  grarU 
ual  dissipation  at  a  still  lower  temperature.  Its 
vapour  is  of  a  rich  violet  colour,  from  which  cir- 
cumstance it  has  received  the  name  of  Iodine. 
Tt  has  a  very  acrid  taste,  and  a  strong  oflensive 
odour.     It  acts  Avith  creat  encrirv  on  the  animal 


PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS.  197 

sj'stem,  but  may  be  employed  with  advantage  as 
a  medicine  in  very  small  doses. 

It  unites  chemically  with  oxygen  and  hydro- 
gen, forming  the  iodic  and  hydriodic  acids  ;  and 
these,  when  united  with  the  alkaline,  or  earthy  ba- 
sis, constitute  the  iodates,  or  hydriodates  ;  and  in 
one  or  other  of  these  forms  it  is  usually  met  with 
in  nature. 

The  hydriodic  acid  combined  with  potassa  or 
soda,  has  been  detected  in  many  of  the  brine  and 
other  mineral  springs  of  Europe.  It  has  hkewise 
been  found  in  sea-water,  and  a  number  of  ma- 
rine animals ;  it  is  contained  in  sponge,  and  a 
great  variety  of  sea-weed  ;  and  its  existence  in 
the  waters  of  Saratoga  and  Ballston  Spa,  in  the 
state  of  tlie  hydriodate  of  soda,  has  been  satisfac- 
torily demonstrated. 

As  a  medicine,  Iodine  is  now  believed  to  pos- 
sess great  and  important  qualities ;  and  it  has  been 
introduced  as  a  remedy  in  the  cure  of  almost  eve- 
rj'  species  of  chronic  affection.  It  is  supposed  to 
exert  a  special  influence  over  the  absorbent  or  lym- 
phatic system  ;  and  in  goitre  and  scrofula,  as  well 
as  all  other  indolent  enlargement  of  the  glands,  it 
has  maintained  a  high  and  deserved  reputation. 
And  it  is  unquestionably  owing  to  the  presence  of 


198  PRACTICA.L    OBSERVATIOXS. 

this  substance  that  the  mineral  waters  of  Sarato- 
ga are  indebted  for  their  great  efficacy  in  the  cure 
of  strumous  affections. 

The  fountain  which  contains  the  largest  pro- 
portion of  the  hydriodate  of  soda  should,  without 
doubt,  be  selected  by  the  invaUd  laboring  under 
these  afflictions.  The  water  should  be  commen- 
ced in  small  doses,  and  the  quantity  gradually  in- 
creased, as  the  stomach  will  bear  it ;  and  its  use 
should  be  continued,  at  least,  through  the  summer 
months.  There  are  but  few  of  this  description 
who  have  not  received  advantage,  and  numerous 
instances  might  be  adduced  where  the  less  seri- 
ously affected  have  perfectly  recovered  from  a 
proper  com'se  of  bathing  and  drinlung. 

Bromine*  is  another  substance  that  has  lately 
been  discovered  as  entering  into  the  composition 
of  these  waters ;  and  it  is  not  improbable,  from 


*  This  substance  was  discovered  in  sea-water,  by  a  French 
chemist  in  1826.  It  is  in  a  liquid  state  at  the  common  tempe- 
rature of  the  atmosphere  ;  its  color  is  a  bkckish  red ;  its  odour 
is  disagreeable,  and  its  taste  powerful.  It  acts  with  energj'  on 
organic  substances  and  corrodes  the  animal  texture.  It  has 
been  detected  in  most  of  the  substances  in  which  iodine  has 
been  found.  It  exists  in  sea-water  in  the  state  of  the  hydro- 
bromate  of  magnesia,  and  in  tlie  waters  of  tliis  place  it  is  in  the 
state  of  thehydroJjroiaate  of  potassa. 


PKACTICAL    ODSERVATIOXS.  199 

the  highly  active  properties  \vhich  it  is  known  to 
possess,  tliat  in  conjunction  with  iodine,  it  contri- 
butes to  the  clTicacy  of  the  water  in  its  operation 
on  scrolulus  and  enfeebled  habits;  but  the  ex- 
tremely minute  quantity  in  which  it  is  found  for- 
bids the  idea  of  attaching  much  importance  to  its 
presence. 

In  DROPSY,  arising  from  organic  derangement 
of  long  continuance,  the  waters  arc  manifestly  in- 
jurious, as  they  invariably  increase  the  swelling, 
and  add  to  the  sufferings  of  the  patient ;  but  in  re- 
cent cases,  where  the  alfection  arises  simply  from 
a  deficient  action  in  the  absorbent  vessels,  the  wa- 
ter has  a  singular  cflbct  in  removing  it.  It  should 
be  drank  in  the  morning  freely,  so  as  to  produce 
a  copious  discharge  from  the  bowels;  and  through 
the  day  taken  in  such  quantities  as  to  keep  up  a 
pretty  constant  discharge  of  urine.  The  bloating 
is  relieved  innnediately,  and  a  proper  continuance 
of  the  water  will  fmally  establish  the  permanency 
of  the  cure. 

In  PARALYSIS,  the  waters  have  been  usually 
scrviceal)le.  The  purgative  propertiesof  the  Con- 
gress render  it  the  most  aj)plicablc  to  this  disease  ; 
an<i  its  good  ellects  are  much  increased  by  the 
use  of  the  bath. 


200  PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 

In  CHLOROSIS,  and  a  variety  of  other  complaints 
peculiar  to  the  female  sex,  the  waters  maintain  a 
high  and  deserved  reputation.  In  most  of  these 
cases  the  bowels  should  be  kept  open,  by  the  use 
of  the  more  purgative  waters  ;  and  those  of  a  less 
purgative  character  should  be  persevered  in  for 
a  length  of  time.  Their  good  effects  will  be  much 
accelerated  by  frequent  bathing  and  moderate 
exercise. 

"  The  general  operation  of  chalybeates,"  says 
Dr.  Saunders,  in  his  treatise  upon  the  mineral 
waters  of  Europe,  "  is  to  increase  the  power  of  the 
secretory  system  in  a  gradual  uniform  manner, 
and  at  the  same  time,  by  the  permanency  of  their 
stimulus  or  some  other  cause  with  which  we  are 
not  well  acquainted,  to  impart  a  gentle  and  salu- 
tary increase  to  the  body  of  strength,  tone,  ner- 
vous energy  and  general  vigor  of  all  the  functions. 
It  is  therefore  chiefly  in  chronic  disorders,  in  those 
that  arise  from  slow  beginnings  and  are  attended 
with  great  laxity  and  debility  of  the  solids,  but 
without  much  organic  disease,  that  these  waters 
are  found  to  be  particularly  useful." 

In  PHTHISIS,  and  indeed  all  other  pulmonary 
affections,  arising  from  a  primary  disease  of  the 
lungs,  the  waters  arc  evidently  injurious,  and  man- 
ifestly tend  to  increase  the  virulence  of  the  dis- 


PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS.  201 

ease.  Their  use,  therefore,  in  these  complaints, 
as  well  as  in  all  acute  or  inflammatory'  diseases, 
should  be  strictly  prohibited. 

The  season  of  the  year  most  suitable  for  drink- 
ing the  waters  is  often  made  a  subject  of  earnest 
inquiry.  The  summer  months,  or  during  the  pre- 
valence of  warm  weather,  is  undoubtedly  the 
most  suitable  time  for  their  use,  as  cold  drinks  are 
then  far  more  agreeable,  both  to  the  stomach  and 
palate;  and  all  the  secretions  and  excretions  of 
the  system,  in  ordinary  cases,  arc  then  more  read- 
ily and  efl'ectually  operated  on  by  the  effects  oi' 
remedial  agents.  But  what  is  of  still  more  im- 
portance, the  summer  season  is  more  particularly 
adapted  to  a  free  and  unrestrained  exercise  in  the 
open  air  ;  without  which  a  long  course  of  the  wa- 
ters woulfl  be  of  but  little  avail. 

The  grc'U  number  of  visitants  who  frequent 
th<!se  watering  places  during  the  season  for  drink- 
ing, are  no  dou!)t  a  source  of  considerable  income 
to  the  country  :  but  the  annual  inrreasc  of  y>oo/- 
iiiralids,  wiio  Hock  here  from  all  parts  of  tlu;  Igni- 
ted Slates,  and  are  solely  dependant  upon  private 
inunificence  fir  their  subsistence,  is  an  evil  that 
bcLnnsto  be  seriously  felt,  not  only  by  die  iniiabi- 
tants,  but  i)\'  stratigi;rs,  whose  bfncvolciirc,  wliilo 
h'-ro,  is  dailv  laid  under  contribution  f  )r  the  sup- 


202  PRACTICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 

port  of  some  poor  object,  who  is  struggling  to  ob- 
tain from  bountiful  nature  a  renovation  of  health 
which  he  has  lost,  perhaps  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  This  evil  can  only  be  properly  remedi- 
ed by  an  interference  of  the  general  government ; 
and  I  cannot  omit  this  opportunity  to  remind  those 
whose  business  it  may  be,  that  the  endowment  of 
a  small  hospital  at  this  place,  under  proper  regula- 
tions, would  be  attended  with  more  beneficent  ef- 
fects, and  would  tend  more  to  ameliorate  the  con- 
dition of  suffering  humanity,  than  the  appropria- 
tion of  an  equivalent  sum  in  any  other  way. 

Much  interest  has  been  excited  on  the  subject 
of  the  source  of  these  singular  and  interesting 
waters,  but  no  researches  have  as  yet  satisfacto- 
rily unfolded  the  mystery.  The  large  proportion 
of  common  salt  found  among  their  constituent 
properties  may  be  accounted  for  without  much 
difficulty,  all  the  salt  springs  of  Europe  as  well  as 
those  of  America  being  found  in  geological  situa- 
tions exactly  corresponding  to  these ;  but  the 
production  of  the  unexampled  quantity  of  carbonic 
acid  gas,  and  the  medium  through  which  the  other 
articles  are  principally  retained  in  solution,  is  yet, 
and  probably  will  remain,  a  subject  of  mere  spec- 
ulation. The  low  and  regular  temperature  of  the 
water  seems  to  forbid  the  idea  that  it  is  the  effect 
of  subterranean  heat,   as  many   have  supposed, 


PRACTICAL  OBSERVATIONS.        203 

and  tlie  total  absence  of  any  mineral  acid,  cxccpi- 
ing  the  marine  which  is  combined  with  soda,  does 
away  the  possibility  of  its  being  the  effect  of  any 
combination  of  that  kind.  Its  production  istherc- 
tbre  trulv  unaccountable. 


riM«. 


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